Lake Forest man arrested in Huntington Beach on suspicion of attempted sex with minor

A Lake Forest man was arrested Thursday in Huntington Beach on suspicion of attempted sex with a minor. The man, Ricardo Castro, 26, is being held on $100,000 bail and remains in custody.

Huntington Beach police said Friday that Castro was using a social networking app to communicate with an undercover detective, who was posing as a 13-year-old minor. Castro is alleged to have arrived in the city to meet the minor to engage in sexual intercourse, where he was subsequently detained by detectives.

Castro was arrested on suspicion of sending harmful matter with the intent to seduce a minor; communicating with a minor with the intent to engage in lewd acts; and arranging a meeting with a minor to engage in specific illegal acts.

Huntington Beach Lt. Brian Smith said Saturday that police would not disclose which app Castro and detectives communicated on to protect the department’s investigative methods. Smith also said police would not release the location of arrest.

“Based on the totality of the investigation, which includes conversations Mr. Castro had with detectives posing as a minor, and with Mr. Castro committing an act in furtherance of the suspected crimes by traveling to the prearranged meeting location, detectives had probable cause to arrest him,” Smith said in an e-mail.

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