SANTA ANA – A Santa Ana man was arrested for allegedly molesting a 13-year-old girl he met online, and police Friday urged any other possible victims to contact detectives.
Brayan Padilla-Gomez, 22, was booked on suspicion of kidnapping and child molestation, and bail was set at $1 million, police said.
The girl told police she met Padilla-Gomez online during the month of October, 2021, police said.
“Padilla-Gomez picked up the victim and drove her to his home, where he sexually assaulted her and video recorded the incident,” police said in a statement.
“Padilla-Gomez sent the video to the victim’s friend, who is also a minor, and attempted to meet her with the intent to engage in sex acts and provide her drugs,” police said. “The victim became aware of the video after speaking to her friend and immediately called the police.”
Padilla-Gomez was arrested during a sting operation, police said.
Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer has a track record of going after those who harm children, having previously secured convictions in similar cases.
“Children are the most vulnerable of victims,” Spitzer said in a statement. “They trust without question because they have no reason not to trust. But that trust can be manipulated by predators who use it to select and prey on the most innocent of victims.”
Detectives believe there may be other victims of the suspect, and urged people with information on the case to contact Detective Jorge Gaeta at 714-245-8706 or jgaeta@santa-ana.org; or call Orange County Crime Stoppers at 1- 855-TIP-OCCS.
2UrbanGirls contributed to this report.
