A 70-year-old Prescott man was arrested Wednesday after an investigation that began in Tennessee led detectives to social media accounts, phone data and multiple alleged online contacts with minors across state lines.
Prescott Police identified the man as David Velasquez. According to KTAR.com, authorities in Portland, Tennessee, referred the case after detectives connected Velasquez to multiple incidents of alleged online luring. Investigators said one out-of-state victim was 13 when the case was uncovered and that Velasquez first contacted her when she was 11.
Police detained Velasquez and served a search warrant for his home and belongings, authorities said. Detectives reported finding evidence on his cellphone consistent with the ongoing luring of minors, along with what police described as child sexual abuse material. Velasquez was booked into the Yavapai County Jail.
Prescott Case Adds To Local Record Of Online Luring Arrests
The arrest comes after other child-exploitation cases in and around Prescott that also began with online contacts. In a 2025 release, the Yavapai County Attorney’s Office said a jury convicted 68-year-old Prescott resident Jeffrey York of luring a minor for sexual exploitation and two counts of attempted sexual conduct with a minor.
That earlier case involved an undercover social-media operation in which York allegedly tried to arrange sexual encounters with people he believed were a 7-year-old boy and an 11-year-old girl. The county attorney’s office said the investigation involved Prescott Police, the Yavapai County Sheriff’s Office and federal investigators.
Charges And What Happens Next
Velasquez is accused of sexual exploitation of a minor, aggravated luring of a minor for sexual exploitation and luring of a minor for sexual exploitation. Under Arizona law, luring a minor for sexual exploitation is generally a class 3 felony, while sexual exploitation of a minor is generally a class 2 felony; offenses involving victims younger than 15 can trigger additional sentencing provisions.
The allegations have not been proven in court, and the available report did not provide information about an attorney representing Velasquez or a scheduled court hearing. The investigation may involve victims and evidence in multiple states, according to authorities.
