By admin 
Placer investigators have arrested a Tennessee man suspected of sextorting a Placer County child online, sheriff’s officials said Friday, and identified other underage victims, including one the suspect allegedly met at a Placer County hotel.
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Christopher Fancher, 42, of Sparta, Tennessee, faced a long list of charges connected to the alleged online extortion and contact with minors. Investigators said Fancher communicated with the child online, demanded nude images from her and threatened to tell the child’s mother if she did not continue to send him the images, according to the Placer County Sheriff’s Office.
Sheriff’s investigators also said Fancher demanded that the child record and send videos depicting sexual acts. He sent gift cards for the girl’s birthday and other occasions — a grooming tactic often used by child predators, sheriff’s officials said.
He allegedly communicated with other underage victims including one he traveled to meet at a Placer County hotel, according to sheriff’s officials.
Fancher remained in Tennessee custody, where he was arrested Aug. 11 by Placer County sheriff’s detectives and Sparta police on suspicion of four counts of communicating with a child for the purpose of committing lewd acts, possessing child sexual abuse material, attempted extortion and furnishing marijuana to a minor.
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“Predators have more access to children than ever before, and social media can make it easier for them to hide behind a screen,” Placer County Sheriff’s Office said in a statement announcing the Aug. 11 arrest in Tennessee. “In this case, Snapchat was a common method of communication.”
Fancher is awaiting extradition to Roseville and a date in Placer Superior Court.
Placer County has online resources for parents and caregivers to help recognize warning signs and keep children safe online through the Placer County District Attorney’s Office AppSafe Initiative.
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