A Solvang man is facing multiple charges after sheriff’s officials say he tried to use flavored tobacco products as a way to lure a 12-year-old into sexual acts through the use of social media.
The Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office says deputies responded to the 1700 block of Mission Drive in Solvang on Oct. 20 after a parent reporting following a man who was “stalking her child on a social media app.”
"Deputies spoke with the reporting party who told them she had intercepted messages on a social media app from the suspect to her child, and was in the area to catch the suspect as he was planning to meet up with the child to exchange sexual acts for flavored tobacco products,” according to a press release.
Deputies say they contacted the suspect, identified as Angel Saloman, 20, and arrested him on suspicion of multiple felonies, including arranging to meet with a minor for lewd purposes, sending harmful matter to seduce a minor, possession of metal knuckles and attempting to furnish tobacco to a minor, which is a misdemeanor.
Saloman was booked into the Santa Barbara County Jail where he remained in custody Thursday afternoon in lieu of $100,000 bail, jail logs showed.
Anyone with information about the suspect is asked to contact Detective Rivlin at (805) 686-8154 or jor3148@sbsheriff.org. Anonymous tips can be made by calling (805) 681-4171 or online here.
The sheriff’s office is using this incident as a reminder to parent to monitor their child’s social media platforms.
“This suspect’s predatory attempt was thwarted by a diligent parent who intercepted messages on Snapchat. Addictive flavored tobacco products that are aimed at child consumers who cannot legally purchase them can be used as a commodity to lure children into dangerous act,” according to a press release.
