California Attorney General Rob Bonta, in collaboration with the California Department of Consumer Affairs, announced the arrest and charges against a Temecula optometrist. The suspect allegedly traveled to San Diego County to meet a 14-year-old boy for sexual contact and is charged with contacting a minor for lewd purposes. The investigation was conducted by the California Department of Consumer Affairs on behalf of the California Board of Optometry, while the California Department of Justice’s Cybercrime Section will prosecute the case.
“Let me be absolutely clear: Using the internet to target children for sex is a reprehensible and despicable crime,” said Attorney General Rob Bonta. “If you go after our children, we will hold you accountable. I’m deeply grateful to our partners in the Department of Consumer Affairs for their efforts to help keep our kids safe. At the California Department of Justice, we will continue to use all the tools at our disposal to protect the children of our state.”
“Consumer protection is our highest priority,” said Ken Garcia, Deputy Chief of the Department of Consumer Affairs Division of Investigation. “California has some of the highest professional licensing standards in the nation and it is unacceptable for licensed individuals to violate their responsibility of professional conduct.”
In July 2022, the California Board of Optometry received a complaint against this licensed optometrist. Following further investigation, it was found that he had sent explicit text messages and pictures and planned to meet someone he believed was a 14-year-old boy. Upon arriving at the location, he discovered he had been communicating with an adult and fled.
The Cybercrime Section comprises prosecutors, investigators, auditors, analysts, and paralegals who investigate and prosecute technology-related crimes in California. These include unauthorized intrusions, internet frauds or scams committed via electronic media, internet crimes against children, money laundering through cryptocurrency or electronic transfers, organized retail crimes involving significant digital evidence, cyberstalking, cyber-extortion or cyber-exploitation.
A copy of the criminal complaint can be found here.
It is important to note that every defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.