UNION COUNTY, N.C. — A 24-year-old California man is in jail in Union County after law enforcement officers said he traveled across the country to meet a 15-year-old girl he met online.
Daniel Castillo, of Oxnard, Calif., faces charges including soliciting a minor by computer for sex and sexual exploitation of a minor.
Investigators said Castillo connected with the teenage girl on the gaming platform Roblox before communicating on messaging apps, including Snapchat.
A bystander at Dogwood Park in Waxhaw noticed the girl leaving Castillo’s vehicle and called 911, prompting an investigation by local law enforcement.
Lt. Matthew Winfrey of the Union County Sheriff’s Office commended the community member who reported the encounter.
“I am truly thankful for the citizen who took time out of their day to pay attention and to call so that we could investigate further,” Winfrey said.
According to arrest warrants, Castillo had alcohol and vaping products with him when he met the minor, leading to charges for providing those items to a minor.
Castillo now faces additional charges of indecent liberties with a child and multiple counts of sexual exploitation of a minor.
Winfrey noted that evidence retrieved from digital devices confirmed the suspect was aware of the victim’s age.
“It is evident through what we have been able to find on the devices that he knew that this was an underage female. That should scare parents,” Winfrey said.
Authorities emphasized that individuals seeking to harm children are willing to travel long distances.
“This could have been detrimental. We don’t know what could have happened, but it could have been very bad,” Winfrey said.
Winfrey added that monitoring children has become increasingly challenging as digital tools advance.
“Technology is everywhere, and it’s always advancing. All of our children have technology at their fingertips. That’s something that I didn’t grow up with, and I have to monitor very heavily what my children watch,” Winfrey said.
Castillo was originally held on a $200,000 bond prior to the filing of the additional charges.
In a separate case in Union County, Monroe Police arrested 24-year-old Christian Williams after receiving a cybertip regarding child sexual abuse material.
Officers searched Williams’ apartment, and he now faces 10 charges. Williams is currently being held without bond.
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