MySpace Tip Leads to Suspect’s Arrest

By Lori Consalvo

ONTARIO – A 32-year-old Riverside man has been arrested on suspicion of attempting a lewd act with a 16-year-old girl and contacting a minor with the intent to commit a sexual offense, police said.

Celestino Paguyo was booked at West Valley Detention Center in Rancho Cucamonga on Thursday with bail set at $25,000.

The San Bernardino County District Attorney’s Office also filed charges of Internet seduction of a minor and annoying or molesting a child.

The Department of Homeland Security first notified Ontario police about the incident after they received information from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.

The incident was originally reported by a MySpace agent, who said there was "questionable sexual content between a 32-year-old male and a 16-year-old female via their MySpace accounts."

"There are predators out there that will take advantage of them," said Ontario police Detective Jeff Higbee.

The Ontario girl told police she was lured into what she thought was an innocent meeting with Paguyo, who said he was 20 years old.

"She agreed to meet with him, and she didn’t know much about him except what was on his MySpace profile," Higbee said.

Paguyo picked her up at school and drove her to a public street where he persuaded her to perform a sexual act. He then dropped her off near her home, Higbee said.

After the first incident, Paguyo attempted to contact the girl again, but she would not answer his phone calls and did not meet with him a second time.

"The victim admitted that she was scared and didn’t feel comfortable about the meeting," Higbee said.

Department of Homeland Security agents served search warrants at Paguyo’s home and collected three computers and a cell phone as evidence.

Authorities are also looking into federal charges against Paguyo for allegedly using the Internet to lure a minor for sexual exploitation.

Higbee said parents should tell their children about the potential dangers involved in talking to and meeting strangers over the Internet.

"Be aware of who they are taking with," he said. "Warn (your) children again to not meet with anybody they don’t know. If they are going to meet someone, have them go with a group."

(c) 2008 The Sun, San Bernardino, Calif.. Provided by ProQuest LLC. All rights Reserved.