BAKERSFIELD, Calif.(KBAK/KBFX) — A 73-year-old Ridgecrest man, Arnold Oscar Danielson, was convicted on Nov. 3 for underage sex crimes during a 2023 Ridgecrest police decoy operation, the Kern County District Attorney announced. Danielson was found guilty of attempted contact with a minor for a sexual offense and meeting with a person believed to be a minor for a lewd purpose.
In August 2023, the Ridgecrest Police Department conducted a decoy operation to identify individuals seeking to engage in sexual acts with minors.
{p}12 people were arrested following an undercover operation by the Ridgecrest Police Department that targeted online child predators or those who wished to exploit children. PHOTO: RPD{/p}
On August 17, 2023, Danielson was contacted by a decoy profile on a dating app, where a detective posed as a 16-year-old male.
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Despite being informed of the decoy’s underage status, Danielson responded, “Young is fine with me, just gotta be DL (down low).” He described in detail the sex acts he intended to perform and shared explicit images of his genitals.
Arnold Oscar Danielson. Photo: Kern County District Attorney.
Danielson arranged a meeting with the decoy, where he was arrested by Ridgecrest police.
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Sentencing is set for Dec. 4, 2025, where Danielson faces up to three years and eight months in prison and will be required to register as a sex offender.