A man is behind bars after Baldwin County Sheriff's deputies said he met a 15-year-old girl on Snapchat and took her to his Elberta home for sex.
Julio Perez, Jr. is charged with second-degree rape, second-degree sodomy and traveling to meet a child for an unlawful sex act.
The Robertsdale Police Department alerted the sheriff’s office after investigators said Perez connected with the teen on Snapchat and transported her from Florida to his home. Detectives said both the victim and the suspect admitted to the sexual encounter.
Perez was taken into custody on Wednesday after a formal interview. Additional charges are possible.
“Any further information or help in identifying unknown victims is greatly appreciated,” the sheriff’s office stated. “The Baldwin County Sheriff’s Office and its partners in law enforcement are committed to continuing their efforts to identify and apprehend individuals who engage in illegal activities online and to ensure the safety and well-being of all children.”
The sheriff’s office urged parents to be “actively involved in their children’s digital activity” to prevent sexual exploitation.
“Adults should regularly review their children's online use, understand which applications they are accessing, and remain aware of who their children are interacting with,” the sheriff's office continued. “This case is a stark reminder of how rapidly online communication can escalate into a dangerous in-person encounter. The willingness of an adult to travel across state lines to meet a minor they connected with online underscores the very real and serious threat that predatory behavior poses to our community’s children.”
Perez is considered innocent until proven guilty.
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