Optometrist With Beaumont Tie Charged In Child Sex Crimes Case

TEMECULA, CA ? A Temecula optometrist with a tie to Beaumont was arrested and charged by state officials as part of an investigation into allegations that he tried to meet up with a 14-year-old boy for sex, according to an announcement Monday from California Attorney General Rob Bonta's office.

Brandon Thomas Zoeckler, 42, was charged with one count of an attempted lewd act on a child aged 14 or 15 and one count of meeting a minor for lewd purposes ? both felonies. His bail was set at $100,000.

Zoeckler's alleged behavior came to the attention of law enforcement by People v. Preds, a vigilante group that snares online predators who "prey on children," according to its Facebook page.

Cody Mattingly of People v. Preds lodged a complaint with the state after he posed as a 14-year-old boy online to entrap Zoeckler, a July 1 criminal complaint against the defendant shows. During an August 2021 online communication, the unsuspecting Zoeckler uploaded nude images of himself and requested nude photos from Mattingly, who he thought was a child, according to the criminal complaint filed in San Diego County Superior Court.

During the communication, Zoeckler went on to describe, in detail, the sex acts he wanted to perform with "the boy," the complaint alleges.

The illicit conversation led to a planned rendevous, the complaint continues. Zoeckler drove from Riverside County to a Food 4 Less in San Diego County to meet up with the boy he was communicating with.

When Zoeckler arrived, however, he was met by Mattingly, who went on to record the incident. Zoeckler fled the scene, the complaint states.

California State Board of Optometry records show Zoeckler is licensed to practice. The records indicate he was working at LensCrafters in the Promenade Temecula mall. Zoeckler's address of record is 831 Highland Springs Avenue, Suite 300, in Beaumont, according to the state board's information.

Attorney General Bonta issued a scathing statement.

"Let me be absolutely clear: Using the internet to target children for sex is a reprehensible and despicable crime," he said. "If you go after our children, we will hold you accountable. ... At the California Department of Justice, we will continue to use all the tools at our disposal to protect the children of our state."

California's Department of Consumer Affairs also investigated the case.

"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."