SantaMariaPolice
On Wednesday, March 20, 2024, at about 9:00 AM, SMPD Detectives conducted an operation in the city that led to the arrest of a man who had arranged to meet with who he believed was an adult woman and her 11-year-old daughter.
The investigation revealed that 37-year-old Santa Maria resident, Salvador Morales Montar, used social media messaging to meet with the adult mother and 11-year-old girl with the intent to engage in sexual acts with the child.
Detectives, with assistance from the SMPD Community Services Unit, arrested Morales in a parking lot in Santa Maria after he arrived to meet with who he believed were the woman and her 11-year-old daughter.
Morales was booked into the Santa Barbara County Jail on felony charges related to arranging and meeting with a minor with the intent to engage in sexual acts and electronically sending & soliciting harmful/obscene sexual material.
This case will be forwarded to the Santa Barbara County District Attorney’s Office for filing.
Anyone with information related to this or other suspected unreported crimes involving Morales are encouraged to contact Detective McCorkle with the Special Victims Unit at (805) 928 – 3781 ext. 2453 or the Communications Center at ext. 2277.
I confused. Was the mother pjmping her daughter online!!?
It’s unclear but since they used the word “operation” it makes me believe this was some kind of sting. Or at least I really hope it was!