Corona man gets 3 years in prison for picking up 12-year-old girl from school and committing indecent act – San Bernardino Sun

INDIO — A 27-year-old Corona man accused of dropping out of La Quinta High School with a then-12-year-old girl he communicated with through social media was sentenced Friday after pleading guilty in September.

Joshua Meza previously pleaded guilty to six counts of committing indecent acts on a child under 14 years of age and one count of kidnapping a victim under 14 years of age, contacting a minor with the intent to commit certain crimes, exhibiting objects harmful to a minor. , attempting to sell sexually explicit content to children and possession of a knife or similar object in a school, according to court records. He also pleaded guilty to the offense of carrying a loaded firearm in a public place.

Judge Suzanne Cho sentenced Meza to three years in prison Friday at the Larson Justice Center in Indio, according to Talia Hayden of the Riverside County District Attorney’s Office. The sentence also included a 10-year protective order, records show.

Thermal Sheriff’s Station deputies responded around 1:00 p.m. on May 19, 2023, to La Quinta High School on a report of a 12-year-old girl who had been taken without her parent’s consent, according to an affidavit in support of the bond increase. filed in the Mesa case.

“The victim stated that she went with the suspect intentionally and admitted that they kissed and he touched her clothes. It is currently unknown whether they had sexual intercourse,” the statement said. “I believe he is a flight risk because he has not provided his current address, he traveled from the city of Corona to meet the child and I believe he is a danger to children in the community.”

According to the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department, when deputies arrived at the school, officers provided them with the suspect’s license plate number.

At 2:14 p.m., while deputies were canvassing the area, Meza’s vehicle was located returning to the school.

According to the department, law enforcement officers searched his car and found a firearm. Meza was taken into custody without incident and the minor was returned to her parents.

“The investigation determined that the juvenile was communicating with the suspect through social media,” RCSD Deputy David Aldrich said in a statement at the time. “The victim did not suffer any injuries during the incident.”

Meza was being held at the John Benoit Detention Center in Indio on $200,000 bail. He has no previous criminal record in Riverside County.