CA Man Attempts To Lure Polk County Child For Sex Acts: Sheriff

Redd Bluff, CA — A California man who is accused of grooming a 12-year-old Polk County girl for sex acts admitted to detectives they would find "hundreds" of sexual images and videos of the victim on his phone, the Polk County Sheriff's Office said.

The suspect, 24-year-old Eduardo Martinez of California, was arrested Tuesday on multiple charges of transmitting harmful material to a minor and using a computer to lure a child.

The girl's mother found nude and sexual photos and videos in May of her that were sent to Martinez, authorities said. Sexual SnapChat messages between her daughter and the suspect were also seen. A school resource deputy was informed about this, and gave the information to the Polk County Sheriff's Office.

Detectives did a forensic search of the victim’s phone, and discovered a pattern of sexual grooming, deputies said. Detectives also found a conversation between the suspect and the victim where the suspect told the victim that he wanted to impregnate her. The victim told Martinez that she was 15 years old, and did not want to get pregnant. He then responded through text, “Idc you are a baby. I want a baby.”

Investigators also found a nude photo of an adult male, and a photo of a Hispanic male with dark short hair.

During the investigation, a Polk County warrant was obtained. PCSO detectives contacted the Red Bluff Police Department who assisted by arresting Martinez.

Martinez told Red Bluff detectives he did send the victim sexually explicit videos and images. He also told police there will be “hundreds” of sexually explicit images and videos of the victim on his phone, along with similar videos and images of other underage girls with whom he had also been communicating. He told detectives that he moved to Red Bluff from Oregon in January for a “fresh start.”

“I can’t say this often enough: Predators are lurking online and on apps looking for children to groom for sex, Sheriff Grady Judd said. "This is why it is so important for parents to make it their business to check their child’s electronic devices often. Because this mother checked her daughter’s phone and told law enforcement, a predator was stopped before something worse could happen. As far as this sexually deviant creep in California, he will be held accountable for his despicable behavior.”

Martinez was booked into the Tehama County Jail in California on the Polk County warrant and is being held with no bond. He will be extradited to Polk County at a later date, according to law enforcement officials.