A 36-year-old suspected child predator was arrested after police executed a search warrant at his Watsonville residence, uncovering child sexual abuse material and identifying additional victims.Police said Oscar Mendoza-Barrera had been in contact with a 13-year-old girl in Marina, where they arranged to meet in person. A concerned citizen observed an interaction and alerted authorities, leading to the investigation.Marina police, along with other agencies, including the Crimes Against Children Task Force, have been investigating the case since February. “They conducted a pretty thorough investigation, leading them to the suspect which they had to author several search warrants which were related to social media accounts and then that led them to a search warrant at his residence today in Watsonville,” Marina Commander Richard Cox said.Law enforcement officials are warning parents about the dangers of online predators. “There are predators out there that are targeting your children so they need to be able to be sharing their accounts with you and you need to be monitoring every interaction that they have,” Cox said.Marina residents we spoke with expressed concerns about social media. “These people are even like tactical and strategic with how they approach these kids online and it’s kind of scary to think of that,” Serenity Riparip, a Marina resident, said. Kimberly Herrera added, “Nowadays, on social media, there’s a lot that you see, and I feel that’s like how young kids and adults get lured to these kinds of traps.”Mendoza-Barrera was taken into custody and booked into Monterey County Jail. Marina police believe there are additional victims who have not been identified or have not come forward, and they are encouraging anyone with information to contact Marina police.
A 36-year-old suspected child predator was arrested after police executed a search warrant at his Watsonville residence, uncovering child sexual abuse material and identifying additional victims.
Police said Oscar Mendoza-Barrera had been in contact with a 13-year-old girl in Marina, where they arranged to meet in person.
A concerned citizen observed an interaction and alerted authorities, leading to the investigation.
Marina police, along with other agencies, including the Crimes Against Children Task Force, have been investigating the case since February.
“They conducted a pretty thorough investigation, leading them to the suspect which they had to author several search warrants which were related to social media accounts and then that led them to a search warrant at his residence today in Watsonville,” Marina Commander Richard Cox said.
Law enforcement officials are warning parents about the dangers of online predators.
“There are predators out there that are targeting your children so they need to be able to be sharing their accounts with you and you need to be monitoring every interaction that they have,” Cox said.
Marina residents we spoke with expressed concerns about social media.
“These people are even like tactical and strategic with how they approach these kids online and it’s kind of scary to think of that,” Serenity Riparip, a Marina resident, said.
Kimberly Herrera added, “Nowadays, on social media, there’s a lot that you see, and I feel that’s like how young kids and adults get lured to these kinds of traps.”
Mendoza-Barrera was taken into custody and booked into Monterey County Jail.
Marina police believe there are additional victims who have not been identified or have not come forward, and they are encouraging anyone with information to contact Marina police.
