A 25-year-old man from Corona was arrested on suspicion of lewd acts with a minor, contacting a minor with the intent to commit a sex crime and possession of a firearm on school grounds, authorities said Saturday.
Deputies from the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department’s Thermal station responded to the 78800 block of Avenue 50 at around 12:35 p.m. Friday to a report of a 12-year-old juvenile who fled the location with a man.
School employees provided deputies with the suspect’s vehicle plate number, Sgt. David Aldrich said. At 2:14 p.m., while deputies were canvassing the area, the suspect’s vehicle was located returning to the location. He identified as Joshua Meza, was taken into custody without further incident, and the juvenile was returned to her parents, sheriff’s officials said.
Investigators allegedly found that the juvenile was communicating with Meza through social media. She did not sustain any injuries during the incident, according to Aldrich.
During a search of Meza’s vehicle, deputies allegedly found a firearm. Meza was booked at the John Benoit Detention Center.
Anyone with information about the case was asked to contact Investigator Bugarin at 760-863-2585. Anonymous tips can be made by calling 760-341-7867.