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Chilean man arrested for online grooming of teen girl via Roblox. Learn about internet safety for kids.
Glendora police and Homeland Security Investigations apprehended a 21-year-old suspect, a Chilean man who was accused of sexually exploiting a 14-year-old girl online upon his arrival at Los Angeles International Airport. Authorities believe he intended to assault the girl, having booked an Airbnb near Glendora.
Glendora PD's Lt. Fenner said they charged the suspect with several offenses - contacting a minor for a sexual offense, engaging in lewd conduct with a minor, sending harmful matter to a minor, sexual exploitation of a minor, possession of child pornography, and producing child pornography.
Fenner mentioned the suspect met the girl, who was only 13 then, on Roblox earlier this year. Over several months, he allegedly groomed the girl through various online apps, including Zoom.
According to the Los Angeles Daily News, "The relationship was discovered early on, and it ended," Fenner said. "The victim's parents blocked the suspect." Police received an anonymous tip in April about the online relationship, which was traced to an IP address in Chile. Authorities then contacted Homeland Security.
"Homeland Security Investigations informed us he had purchased a ticket to fly to the U.S.," Fenner said. When the man landed at LAX, U.S. Customs and Border Protection apprehended him without incident.
As of August 21, the suspect was being held in Glendora's jail. They're keeping the child's information confidential to protect her privacy. Fenner said that representatives of all of the online apps the suspect used to communicate with the girl cooperated with the investigation.
