Alleged MySpace Predator Arrested in OC

Updated: Saturday, 20 Feb 2010, 9:47 PM PST
Published : Saturday, 20 Feb 2010, 9:47 PM PST

Text Story by:
City News

Posted by: Scott Coppersmith / myFOXla.com

Anaheim - A 33-year-old Anaheim man accused of having sex with a 12-year-old Santa Ana girl he met on MySpace was behind bars today, a police sergeant said.

Matthew Martinez Casteneda allegedly arranged to meet the girl Wednesday at the South Coast Plaza in Costa Mesa after communicating with her on the MySpace social networking Web site.

They took a bus to Anaheim, where they visited two parks, said Anaheim police Sgt. Rick Martinez.

Casteneda then allegedly took the victim to Zaby's Motor Lodge at Harbor Boulevard and Katella Avenue and had sexual relations with her before leaving, Martinez said.

About 30 minutes later, the girl left the room and flagged down a uniformed Anaheim police civilian traffic controller, saying she wanted a ride home. The girl did not mention having sex, Martinez said.

It was later discovered that the girl was reported missing in Santa Ana, and she told a Santa Ana police officer she had sex with the suspect.

At about midnight Friday, Anaheim police found Casteneda at a warehouse in the 2000 block of Placentia Avenue in Costa Mesa, Martinez said.

He was arrested and booked at the Anaheim Detention Facility on suspicion of lewd and lascivious behavior with a child under the age of 14.

"Through the assistance of the staff at Zaby's Motor Lodge, we discovered that Casteneda has frequented that motel on numerous occasions," Martinez said. "We believe this subject has victimized other minors."

From: http://www.myfoxla.com/dpp/news/local/alleged-myspace-predator-arrested-20100220