Registered Sex Offender Arrested After Attempting to Seduce a Minor via the Internet

LOS ANGELES POLICE DEPARTMENT
PRESS RELEASE
Thursday, May 25, 2000

"Registered Sex Offender Arrested After Attempting to Seduce a Minor Via the Internet"

Los Angeles – In February 2000, a 12-year old female reported to her mother that while communicating with people in an Internet Chat Room she was sent unsolicited sexually explicit images from an individual. One of the victim’s family members signed on the Internet and received similar pornographic images from the same person.

In March 2000, officers from the Los Angeles Police Department, Juvenile Division, assumed the persona of a 12-year old female and made contact with the person who sent the images. Soon, the suspect established an intimate relationship with the undercover officer’s persona and sent similar pornographic images, indicating that he wanted to meet with the 12-year old for love and a sexual relationship. Following a nearly three month investigation, officers identified the suspect as 43-year old Darrell Eugene Harris from Modesto, California.

By the middle of May 2000, Harris had arranged to drive from Modesto to meet the 12-year old persona in Los Angeles and engage in various sexual acts. On May 23, 2000, Harris was arrested as he approached a pre-arranged location in the Los Angeles area to meet the 12-year old. Prior to the meeting, Harris had instructed the undercover officer to delete all references to him in the persona’s computer.

At the time of Harris’ arrest, he had in his possession, a digital camera, marijuana, flowers and jewelry that he promised he would give to the "child" when he met her. Following Harris’ arrest, a search warrant was prepared by Juvenile Division investigators and executed by detectives with the Modesto Police Department.

Harris remains in custody for violation of Penal Code Section 664/288 (Attempted Lewd Acts With a Child Under 14 Years). Bail has been set at $100,000.

Captain Kirk Albanese, Commanding Officer, Juvenile Division, will be available on Thursday, May 25, 2000 between 10:00AM and 1:00PM for personnel interviews with media representatives on this issue.

For additional information, please contact the Media Relations Section at
213-485-3586.

This press release was prepared by Officer Pablo P. Vitar, Media Relations Section.

For Release 11:00 am PDT
May 26, 2000