SAN ANTONIO – A 67-year-old man is expected to face a charge of sexual assault of a child after Bexar County deputies said he allegedly met a 16-year-old boy on social media and arranged to meet for sex.
The Bexar County Sheriff’s Office said the boy’s mother tracked him earlier Saturday using a Life360-type app to a home in the 8600 block of Real Road in Bexar County.
When the teen returned home, deputies said his mother questioned him about where he had been, and he told her he had met with the 67-year-old man after connecting on social media and that they arranged to meet for sex.
Deputies said the two “did engage in sexual activity,” and the boy’s mother then called law enforcement. Investigators said they determined they believed a criminal offense had occurred and went to the suspect’s residence at 8612 Real Road, where he was brought in for questioning.
The sheriff’s office said the man provided enough information during questioning to establish probable cause for an arrest. Authorities said they are not releasing the suspect’s name yet because he has not been seen by a magistrate, but they plan to provide his identity once that happens.
Investigators noted there is “a 50-plus-year-old age difference” between the two, and while an age gap alone is not necessarily illegal, they said the alleged victim’s age makes it a criminal case.
Deputies said the case is another example of what they described as a continuing pattern of adults targeting children online. The sheriff’s office also referenced an unrelated case earlier today involving the harboring of a runaway child, saying runaway children can be especially vulnerable to exploitation, trafficking, or other abuse.
At this time, authorities said they only know of one alleged victim connected to this suspect. However, they said they are releasing information about the case in part to encourage anyone with information or concerns about other possible victims to come forward.
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