A paralegal suspected of plying a Riverside girl with gifts in exchange for sexual favors posted a $75,000 bond Thursday and was released from jail.
Dennis Lee Shea, 39, of Riverside was arrested Wednesday on suspicion of statutory rape, lewd acts on a child under 14 years old and sodomy of a minor. He was booked into the Robert Presley Jail in Riverside, but posted bail on Thursday and was freed.
According to Riverside Police Officer Ryan Railsback, on Dec. 19, detectives learned of possible illicit encounters between Shea and the teenage girl, whose identity was not released, prompting an investigation.
Railsback said Shea connected with the victim via social media, culminating in meetings at his residence in the 3400 block of Wilbur Street, within the Arlington area of the city.
“He would offer the female gifts in exchange for sexual acts,” the officer said. “He would also take videos and photographs of the victim while the crimes occurred.”
At the same time the Riverside police investigation was underway, San Bernardino police were conducting one of their own stemming from the suspect’s alleged interactions with a girl in that city, where Shea runs a paralegal business, according to Railsback.
“Due to the methods the suspect used to contact his victims using social media, it is believed there could be others who have not yet come forward,” Railsback said.
Anyone with information was asked to contact the police department’s Sexual Assault & Child Abuse unit at (951) 353-7136.
Shea has no prior documented felony convictions in either Riverside or San Bernardino counties.
–City News Service