SANTA MONICA—A 30-year-old man was charged for suspicion of contacting a minor for sexual offense and meeting a minor for lewd purposes after he spoke to an undercover individual posing as a 14-year-old girl on Tuesday, December 7.
Allegedly, Fernando Dominguez used an online chat room to express that he wanted to engage in sexual acts with the undercover person disguised as a minor. A meeting was set up between the two on December 5 at the Santa Monica Place Mall. The two had been chatting since March 2021.
The organization responsible for the undercover operation that led to Dominguez’s arrest was CC Unit. CC Unit is dedicated to protecting children from predators by catching the predators and raising awareness in the community.
CC Unit tried interviewing Dominguez after he was confronted but turned away evading any of their questions. They gave the chat transcripts and YouTube link to police officers.
According to Santa Monica Police Department Lt. Rudy Flores, CC Unit livestreamed the operation on their YouTube channel.
Dominguez was arrested by police officers on Colorado Avenue and 4th Street. His bail was set at $80,000 and his next court appearance is scheduled for December 21 at the LAX Superior Court.
