Authorities in Southern California are calling for public assistance in tracking down potential additional victims of a Redlands man charged with multiple sex crimes involving underage girls. The suspect, 27-year-old Peter Michael Mejia, was apprehended in Beaumont on Monday, February 17 after Costa Mesa Police received reports last Thursday alleging he had unlawful sexual engagements with minors, as per KTLA.
Mejia reportedly encountered his victims on social media, where he established a connection before picking them up in his car to commit the assault. He is now facing multiple counts, including lewd acts with a minor, and possession of child pornography. During the investigation, detectives learned that the accused had communicated with the victims through social media platforms, according to a CBS News Los Angeles report.
Following Mejia's arrest, the Costa Mesa Police Department has expressed concern about the possibility of more victims due to the alleged predator's online activities targeted at young girls. They are actively reaching out to the community for help in identifying any other individuals who might have been victimized by Mejia. The suspect has been charged with felonies, including the use of "an underage person for obscene matter and one count of lewd or lascivious acts with a minor younger than 14, both of which are felonies. He was also charged with a misdemeanor count of lewd acts on a child 14 or 15 years old," police said, as noted by CBS News Los Angeles article.
CMPD is now tasked with delving deeper into the suspect's past actions, "Due to the arrestee’s access to young girls through social media, detectives are seeking the public’s assistance in identifying potential additional victims Mejia might have had access to via any social platform," as reported by Patch. Community members with relevant information or belief of being a victim are urged to reach out to Detective Michael Luu at 714-754-5051, or Sergeant Jake Jacobi at 714-754-5352 to assist in the ongoing investigation.
