Convicted Sex Offender Nabbed After Falling For 'Teen Girl' In Riverside County: DA

RIVERSIDE COUNTY, CA — A registered sex offender allegedly attempted to prey on a local "13-year-old girl" before learning it was a law enforcement set-up.

Victor Gabriel Perez, 45, of Azusa, remained behind bars Tuesday at Larry D. Smith Correctional in Banning following his arrest on Nov. 4 in Riverside. He has been formally charged with attempted child molestation, arranging to meet with a child for sex, sending harmful material to a child, and communicating with a child for sexual gratification.

On Nov. 6, Perez pleaded not guilty to all charges. He is due back in court on Nov. 18 for a felony settlement conference.

According to the Riverside County prosecutors, Perez began an online relationship in September with what he thought was a 13-year-old girl. Instead, "the child" was actually an undercover investigator with the Riverside County Child Exploitation Team.

The communication — and ruse — continued. On Nov. 4, Perez agreed to meet "the girl" in person for sex, according to the Riverside County District Attorney's Office.

The Riverside County Child Exploitation Team arrested Perez on Arlington Avenue in Riverside, and he remains in custody in lieu of $60,000 bail.

According to state records, Perez was convicted in 2008 of unlawful sexual intercourse with a minor and contributing to the delinquency of a minor involving lewd or lascivious behavior. He was released from custody the same year.