(PUEBLO COUNTY, Colo.) — A 30-year-old Denver man has been arrested in Pueblo West after he allegedly had sex with a 16-year-old girl he had met on the social media app Snapchat.
According to the Pueblo County Sheriff’s Office (PCSO), deputies were on routine patrol around 3:30 a.m. on Monday, Sept. 22 in Pueblo West when they spotted two cars parked at Liberty Point, which is closed to the public past 10 p.m.
Deputies made contact with two males and two females who said they were out stargazing. On further investigation, deputies learned one of the girls, a 16-year-old, had met a man on Snapchat and agreed to meet him on Sunday night, Sept. 21. The teen reportedly told deputies she had left her parents’ home in Pueblo without their consent and met the man, identified as 30-year-old Alfredo Antonio-Diego.
The teen said she and Antonio-Diego had driven around to several locations before returning to an apartment where they had sex. The teen told deputies they then drove to Liberty Point where she admitted to drinking alcohol with Antonio-Diego. Deputies said the teen was visibly intoxicated at this point.
PCSO said deputies attempted to question Antonio-Diego but he refused to speak. He was arrested and booked into the Pueblo County Jail on charges of felony sexual assault, contributing to the delinquency of a minor, driving under the influence, and having no insurance. After the arrest, deputies learned Antonio-Diego also had two previous DUI arrests.
Courtesy: Pueblo County Sheriff’s Office
“The Sheriff’s Office reminds parents to warn their children of the dangers of meeting people on the Internet and through social media apps,” PCSO said. “Often, sexual predators will groom or lure children into conversations through social media platforms and once they build trust, they take advantage of the child through inappropriate or illicit behavior.”
PCSO provided some tips for parents to help protect their children from online predators:
Discuss internet safety with your children. Teach them to look for red flags and encourage them to communicate with you. Teach children to never share personal information, photos or videos online in public forums and with people they don’t know.
Supervise young children when on the internet. Periodically check your child’s profile and posts.
Review games, apps and social media sites before allowing your child to use them. Be mindful of apps that allow for direct messaging, video chats, file uploads and user anonymity.
Use parental controls and adjust privacy settings.
Be alert to signs of potential abuse to include changes in a child’s behavior and/or mood and concealing online activity.
Encourage children to tell a parent, or trusted adult if they are asked to engage in any inappropriate behavior.
If you suspect online enticement or sexual exploitation of a child, immediately contact law enforcement.
