On Tuesday, Turlock Police conducted follow-up in a juvenile molestation investigation.
Detectives, posing as a 13-year-old girl, had previously communicated with Manmeet Sarang, 36, of Fremont, on various online applications.
Sarang had then traveled to Turlock in hopes of meeting and engaging in sexual activity with the decoy 13-year-old, when he was instead met by detectives and investigators who arrested him.
Sarang was booked into the Stanislaus County Public Safety Center on charges of attempting to commit a lewd or lascivious act with a child under 14, sending harmful material to seduce a minor, contacting a minor with the intent to commit a sex offense, and arranging to meet a minor for purposes of engaging in lewd or lascivious behavior.
The following Monday, Sergio Torres, 31, of Livingston, was arrested under similar circumstances, after, again, making plans to meet who he believed was a 13-year-old girl.
Torres was booked into the Stanislaus County Public Safety Center on charges of attempting to commit a lewd or lascivious act with a child under 14, sending harmful material to seduce a minor, contacting a minor with the intent to commit a sex offense, going to meet a minor for purposes of engaging in lewd or lascivious behavior, and attempting to possess child pornography.
Both remain in custody and are being held on $500,000 and $735,000 bail respectively.
“These investigations are not related to one another, but are part of an ongoing effort to combat child exploitation,” said Officer Giovacchini. “Our mission is to safeguard the lives and the wellbeing of children living in, or visiting, the City of Turlock and the surrounding communities. Keeping our youth safe from predators will continue to be my number one priority.”
Giovacchini returned to patrol after completing a four-year detective assignment in February. Despite this, she continues to play a huge part in these investigations, as she was the lead in both of these.
The investigations remain ongoing. Anyone with information that could assist is encouraged to call Officer Giovacchini at 209-668-6539.
