13-Year-Old Girl Becomes Victim of Online Predator NR10111kr

March 7, 2010

**UPDATE**

Detectives have released a photograph of the suspect, believing that there may be additional victims.  You may also request a copy through Media Relations Section at (213) 486-5910.

Los Angeles: An adolescent girl who befriended a 35-year-old man on the popular social network, MySpace, was enticed away from school and taken to a location where she was sexually assaulted.

On Thursday, March 4, 2010, at around 6 p.m., the victim’s mother went to Harbor Area Police Station to report her daughter missing.  She stated that around 1:45 p.m. she had gone to a local Middle School to pick up her daughter, but her daughter never came out of the school.  After searching on her own for several hours, the mother went to Harbor Area Police Station to make a Missing Person’s police report.

During the investigation it was discovered that the victim had been communicating with the suspect, Samuel Francisco of Los Angeles, on MySpace.  It was learned that Francisco had picked the victim up from school on Friday afternoon and taken her to his residence in the 500 block of East 36th Street.

That is where Detectives from the Los Angeles Police Department’s (LAPD) Internet Crimes Against Children Unit, Major Crimes Detectives, Secret Service Agents and Immigration Custom Enforcement Officers located Francisco and rescued the child.  Francisco was taken into custody and booked for Kidnap, with additional charges expected to be filed.  He is currently being held on $500,000 bail.  

The Los Angeles Police Department’s (LAPD) Internet Crimes Against Children Unit want to remind parents and care givers to be vigilant in monitoring the computer use of children in their care.  There are those in society who will use every means available to them, to prey on the youth and innocence of children.  Unfortunately, social websites have become popular among school age children and predators alike.  We must all strive to keep our kids safe.

Anyone with information about this crime is asked to contact Los Angeles Police Department’s (LAPD) Internet Crimes Against Children Unit, Lieutenant Andrea Grossman at (562) 624-4028.  During non-business hours, call 1-877-LAPD-24-7.  Anyone wishing to remain anonymous may call Crimestoppers at 800-222-TIPS (800-222-8477).  Tipsters may contact Crimestoppers by texting the number 274637 (C-R-I-M-E-S on most keypads) with a cell phone. All text messages should begin with the letters “LAPD.” Tipsters may also go to LAPDOnline.org, click on "webtips" and follow the prompts.