East Bay man arrested on suspicion of sexually assaulting teen

SAN MATEO COUNTY – A 19-year-old Pleasanton man was arrested last week on suspicion of sexually assaulting a teenage girl in San Mateo County, according to authorities.

After the incident was reported in July, deputies with the San Mateo County Sheriff’s Office used automated license plate reader technology, social media and “other investigative methods” to identity the suspect, the sheriff’s office said in a news release Tuesday.

An investigation revealed the suspect used social media applications to engage in hundreds of inappropriate conversations with underage girls, according to the sheriff’s office.

The suspect “would often drive to the victims or request they take public transportation to meet him in person,” the sheriff’s office said, adding that many of the conversations included the exchange of “child sexual abuse material.”

He also used fake names including John Kelly and Josh Foire, according to the sheriff’s office.

On Aug. 15, the sheriff’s office worked with the Pleasanton Police Department to find and arrest the suspect.

The sheriff’s office said the suspect was booked into the Maguire Correctional Facility in Redwood City on charges of sexual penetration with a person under 18, assault with intent to commit a felony, arranging to meet with a minor for lewd purposes, contacting a minor to commit a felony and sending harmful material to seduce a minor.

Investigators believe there may be additional victims, according to the sheriff’s office. Anyone with information related to the case can contact Detective Nicole Pitts at 650-363-4060 or npitts@smcgov.org, or the anonymous tip line at 800-547-2700.