David Sanabria of Perris on Wednesday admitted two counts of possession of child porn and one count of contacting a minor for the purpose of committing a criminal offense under a plea agreement with the Riverside County District Attorney’s Office. Prosecutors agreed to drop three related charges against Sanabria in exchange for his admissions.

Superior Court Judge Gary Polk scheduled a sentencing hearing for Nov. 21 at the Riverside Hall of Justice. The plea deal specifies 365 days in county jail, two years’ felony probation and lifetime status as a sex registrant under Penal Code section 290, which prescribes restrictions on where convicted sex offenders can work, with whom they can interact and where they can stay.

According to sheriff’s Investigator David Schell, Sanabria was first arrested last November following an investigation that uncovered instances in which he had sent sexually explicit material to minors, whose identities were not disclosed.

The defendant tried to arrange a meeting with one of the victims, with whom he was communicating via social media, but was unsuccessful, according to court papers.

He posted bond at the time, and one of the conditions of his release was that he not visit places where minors were gathered.

Schell said that Sanabria did just that, ” attending several churches in Riverside County (where he was) around and with children” in the congregation. That led to the defendant being re-arrested in April and held in lieu of $250,000 bail at the Smith Correctional Facility in Banning.

He has no documented prior felony convictions in Riverside County.

The post RivCo Child Porn User Sentencing: Lifetime Sex Offender, 1 Year Jail appeared first on The Hemet & San Jacinto Chronicle.

MURRIETA, CA — A convicted felon accused of trying to arrange a sexual encounter with an underage girl — who was actually an undercover law enforcement officer involved in an online predator sting — was charged Thursday with multiple misdemeanor and felony offenses.

Laith Fathi Sikta, 44, of Sacramento was arrested Saturday following a monthlong law enforcement operation that included Riverside County sheriff’s deputies from the Southwest Station in French Valley.

Sikta is charged with two counts each of distributing harmful material to a minor and identity theft, as well as one count each of contacting a minor with intent to perpetrate a sexual offense, arranging a meeting with a minor for illicit purposes, possession of child pornography, attempting to furnish marijuana to a child under 14 years old and possession of controlled substances.

Sikta, who is being held in lieu of $100,000 bail at the Byrd Detention Center, was slated to make his initial court appearance Thursday afternoon at the Southwest Justice Center in Murrieta.

According to sheriff’s Sgt. Joe Narciso, the investigation into Sikta’s online activity began toward the end of July when the internet predator sting was initiated.

“Sikta communicated his intent to have sex and arranged to meet for sex someone whom he believed to be a 14-year-old girl, but was actually an online undercover officer,” Narciso said.

He alleged that on Friday, the defendant drove from his Sacramento residence to Murrieta “with the plan to pick up the minor in the middle of the night.”

He was instead confronted by deputies, who took him into custody without incident on Winchester Road.

“Cannabis was located in Sikta’s vehicle,” the sheriff’s spokesman said.

According to court records, the defendant has a prior conviction for robbery.

The post Man Charged With Trying To Arrange Sex With ‘Girl’ In Murrieta appeared first on The Hemet & San Jacinto Chronicle.