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A Californian man has been arrested on suspicion of attempting to lure a minor into his home for sex by pretending to be a woman.
Arturo Martinez, 42, a registered sex offender, was arrested on January 10 after several women, including a 17-year-old girl, reported him to police complaining that they had been lured to his home under false pretenses.
Martinez, of Hesperia, is accused of contacting women through social media and other websites while using a fake name. He is also alleged to have put on a female voice while speaking to them on the phone as part of his disguise, according to the San Bernardino Sheriff's Office.
Following a search of his home, deputies found enough evidence to arrest Martinez on suspicion of contact with a minor with the intent to commit a sexual act.
Police said Martinez contacted women through babysitting, cleaning, taxi, and real estate companies, and other types of delivery businesses, in order to lure them to his home for sexual purposes.
The suspect is alleged to have contacted "numerous" women through the Adelanto, Apple Valley, Hesperia, Phelan and Victorville areas of California, but police believe there could be additional victims.
The San Bernardino Sheriff's Office have released two booking photos of Martinez as part of an appeal for potential victims to come forward.
In one photo, Martinez is seen with several piercings and studs in his nose, ears and around the mouth. In another, he is pictured with surgical implants in his head which make him appear to have horns.
Following his arrest, Martinez was booked at the High Desert Detention Center and is being held on $500,000 bail. The San Bernardino Sheriff's Office said Martinez is a sex registrant from a previous conviction for indecent exposure.
Anyone with information regarding similar incidents which might be related to Martinez are asked to contact the Hesperia Sheriff's Station. Alternatively, those who wish to remain anonymous can contact the WeTip hotline at 800-78-CRIME or www.wetip.com.
Horn implants, technically known as subdermal implants, are a form of body modification in which material is placed underneath the skin to give a raised appearance. The implants are usually made out of silicone, although metals such as surgical steel or titanium can also be used.
About the writer
Ewan Palmer is a Newsweek News Reporter based in London, U.K. His focus is reporting on US politics, and Florida ... Read more