Concerns raised by a jewelry store clerk in Rancho Cordova have led to the arrest of Scott Bartholomew Prange, a 44-year-old tier-3 sexual offender, for a series of alleged crimes involving minors. According to a post by the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office, Prange was shopping for a "promise ring" with a 15-year-old female when their interaction aroused suspicion, leading to his detention in the parking lot by deputies and the Sacramento Sexual Assault Felony Enforcement (SAFE) Team.
After a brief investigation, it was discovered that Prange was noncompliant with his sexual offender registration and had an active arrest warrant for parole violation. Despite prior arrests, including flight from state jurisdiction, and possession of Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM), Prange was found in possession of thousands of CSAM videos, involving infants and children both prepubescent, and pubescent at the time of his arrest. The follow-up investigation revealed more disturbing allegations, including Prange’s production of videos in which he sexually abused a 7-year-old child and communicated with multiple minors across California.
In the detailed account given by the Sacramento County Sheriff's Office, Prange faces multiple charges including digital penetration of a child under 10, oral copulation with a child under 10, lewd acts with a child under 14, and attempting lewd acts with a 14 or 15-year-old, while being 10 years their senior. Other charges include sending harmful content to minors, intent to commit a sexual offense following communication with a minor, and arranging and arriving at a meeting with the intent of engaging in lewd behavior. He is presently being held without bail at the Sacramento County Main Jail.
Investigators believe that Prange stayed with various families where he had access to multiple children in the Sacramento, Placer, and Butte County regions. He is also linked to multiple counties across several states including Kentucky, Washington, and Michigan. Prange has been in communication with at least one additional victim out of state, a 12-year-old girl, in Georgia.
The multi-agency investigation that brought Prange to custody included the Rancho Cordova Police Department, Sacramento County Probation Department, Citrus Heights Police Department, Lincoln Police Department, Merced Police Department, Morro Bay Police Department, and the Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) unit of the Sacramento Valley Hi-Tech Crimes Task Force. The task force, noted for its role in investigating the sexual exploitation of children, extends its reach throughout Northern California.
Authorities are now urging the public to come forward with any information related to Prange or possible unidentified victims. Anyone with information is requested to contact the Sheriff's Office directly or anonymously through the Sacramento Valley Crime Stoppers by phone, the "P3 TIPS" app, or online, as the investigation continues to uncover the full extent of Prange's alleged crimes and seek justice for the victims involved.
