BOUNTIFUL, Utah – A man has been booked into jail after he allegedly had unlawful sexual activity with a 14-year-old girl; police said at least one other teen was victimized, and they believe there may be other victims as well.
According to a press release from the Bountiful City Police Department, police arrested 25-year-old Christopher Philip Padilla of Sandy for unlawful sexual activity with a minor and for enticing a minor. Detectives made the arrest Wednesday night at Boulton Elementary School in Bountiful.
The press release states the victim’s mother contacted police about the incident, and police learned the victim had met Padilla online. After chatting or texting the victim, Padilla allegedly met her in Bountiful earlier this month and, “unlawful sexual conduct took place.”
Detectives received the victim’s cell phone, and when they did Padilla was actively trying to contact the teen via text message. Tuesday, police began texting back while posing as the victim. During the next 36 hours, Padilla allegedly made graphic and sexually explicit comments in their text conversations.
Padilla arranged to meet at Boulton Elementary School while the detectives were posing as the victim. When he arrived, police identified and arrested him. Padilla allegedly admitted to police he had met the victim on or about February 12 and engaged in sexual activity.
Police said Padilla admitted to meeting at least one other girl under the age of 18 online and in person, and detectives believe there may be more victims out there who have not been identified. Police said they would like to remind parents to monitor their children’s online activity in order to protect them from sexual predators.
