SAN MATEO COUNTY – A 19-year-old Pleasanton man was arrested last week on suspicion of sexually assaulting a teenage girl in San Mateo County, according to authorities.
After the incident was reported in July, deputies with the San Mateo County Sheriff’s Office used automated license plate reader technology, social media and “other investigative methods” to identify the suspect, the sheriff’s office said in a news release Tuesday.
An investigation revealed the suspect used social media to engage in hundreds of inappropriate conversations with underage girls, according to the sheriff’s office.
The suspect “would often drive to the victims or request that they take public transportation to meet him in person,” the sheriff’s office said, adding that many of the conversations included the exchange of “child sexual abuse material.”
He also used false names including John Kelly and Josh Foire, according to the sheriff’s office.
On August 15, the Sheriff’s Office worked with the Pleasanton Police Department to locate and arrest the suspect.
The sheriff’s office said the suspect was booked into the Maguire Correctional Facility in Redwood City on charges of sexual penetration of a person under the age of 18, assault with intent to commit a felony, arranging to meet a minor for lewd purposes, contacting a minor for to commit a felony and send harmful material to seduce a minor.
Investigators believe there may be additional victims, according to the sheriff’s office. Anyone with information related to the case can contact Detective Nicole Pitts at 650-363-4060 or npitts@smcgov.orgor the anonymous tip line at 800-547-2700.
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