A 45-year-old man suspected of trying to arrange a sexual encounter with a young girl — who was in reality an undercover law enforcement officer — he met online was out of custody Thursday.
Ryan Hagen of Anaheim was arrested and booked into the Robert Presley Jail in Riverside Wednesday afternoon on suspicion of communicating with a minor for illicit purposes and sending pornographic material to an underage person. Hagen posted a $55,000 bond and was released from the downtown jail a few hours later.
According to the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department, earlier this month, investigators assigned to an undercover unit that focuses on predator stings were allegedly contacted by the suspect at a social media account the team set up to make it appear as though it belonged to a 13-year-old girl.
“During several weeks of communication, Hagen asked for sexually gratifying pictures and numerous sex acts and agreed to meet (with the girl),” Sgt. David Ruiz said.
The planned rendezvous point was on West Park Avenue in Redlands, Ruiz said.
He said that deputies coordinated with Redlands Police Department officers to carry out the sting operation, and when Hagen showed up, he was taken into custody without incident.
“Several communication devices were also located and collected as evidence,” the sergeant said.
Background information on the suspect was unavailable.
The case was expected to be submitted to the District Attorney’s Office with a request for felony charges against Hagen.
Any updates on this predator?