Man Accused of Sex Crime Involving 16-Year-Old Girl He Met on Facebook: Deputies

A 21-year-old Hesperia man was arrested in connection with the rape of a 16-year-old girl who he met through Facebook.

Pedro A. Cruz was arrested Monday after the girl told her grandfather about assault that happened on Saturday in Victorville, a Southern California desert city.

The suspect met on Facebook and “developed a friendship,” according to a press release from the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department. They agreed to meet to go to a party in Victorville.

The suspect met the victim at her home and they drove to a liquor store where they purchased alcohol to take to the party.

Cruz drove the victim to an undisclosed location and sexually assaulted her, sheriff’s officials said.

"The victim alleged that at the location, (the suspect) had been touching her and she had told him, no, that she did not appreciate or did not want the advances," Sgt. Ken Lutz said.

Cruz then drove the victim home to Apple Valley without further incident.

The victim's grandfather reached out to authorities on Sunday, who immediately got in the case. 

"(He and the) victim had been texting, so we had his cell phone information. So we, under the guise of being the victim, continued the conversation with him asking him to meet us at a location in Apple Valley," Lutz said.

Cruz was arrested in a store parking lot and booked at High Desert Detention Center. He is being held on $250,000 bail.

Detectives urge anyone with information about this investigation, or anyone who may be a victim of a similar crime, to contact the Victorville Station, Detective Guerra at (760) 241-2911.

Lolita Lopez contributed to this report.

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