Alleged child predator arrested in Santa Cruz, targeted minors on Instagram
By Felix Cortez
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SANTA CRUZ, California (KSBW) — A Santa Cruz County man has been arrested and charged with using social media to try and lure young girls for the purpose of having sex with them. Police say they have identified at least two victims, but there may be more.
On Monday, police sent a warning to parents following the arrest of Victor Calderon.
Police say the 36-year-old Santa Cruz County man used social media to cast a wide net hoping to lure young girls for the purpose of having sex with them.
“He would just reach out to any social media account any Instagram account and wait for someone to respond back to him and once they responded back to him is when he would start grooming them start conversations with them,” said Elliot Rock with Santa Cruz police.
Santa Cruz police say Calderon used the following Instagram account Raul-Rocha-Sancho to find victims. Police say Calderon met up with one 14-year-old girl they know of. Police did not disclose whether sex was involved but when Calderon allegedly reached out to another 14-year-old girl she spoke up and helped police nab the accused online predator.
“Actually used her and she assisted me in talking to this guy and getting to meet up with us, well he thought it was going to be her but it ended up being the police,” said Rock.
Santa Cruz police now warning parents to check their children’s social media accounts, specifically Instagram, to see if they’ve had contact with Calderon. Police believe he may have met up with and had sex with other underage girls.
“If it wasn’t for those brave girls that came forward we wouldn’t have this guy in custody and there potentially could be a lot more victims that we don’t know about yet, so seriously brave girls were the ones that solved this case,” said Rock.
Calderon has been charged with a number of charges including contacting a minor with the intent to have sex, meeting a minor for purpose of having sex, attempted lewd act on a minor and sending harmful matter to a minor. He’s been ordered to stand trial on those charges and is being held without bail.
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