Steven Rawley, 35, was arrested and charged with multiple felonies, including unlawful sex with a minor. Photo provided by the Riverside Sheriff’s Department.A 35-year old Corona man was arrested on February 2 and charged with multiple felonies, including unlawful sex with a minor.
On December 23, 2020, the Riverside County Anti-Human Trafficking Task Force (RCAHT) received a referral from the Hemet Police Department regarding the possible sex trafficking of a minor. During the investigation, investigators found the minor was being sexually exploited for money via social media. One of the men suspected of having sexual contact with the minor was identified as 35-year-old Steven Rawley of Corona.
During the course of their investigation, investigators discovered a YouTube video posted on February 19, 2019, by Arizona Predator Prevention (APP), a citizen watch group, of an incident that occurred in December 2018 in Mohave County, Arizona.
According to Sergeant Robert Menchaca, in the video Steven Rawley contacted an undercover account online which had been set up by APP. The undercover account posed as a fake 15-year-old girl. Rawley propositioned the undercover account for sexual acts, and even after being informed several times that “she” was 15, Rawley set up a meeting for sex, Menchaca reported in a news release. The video shows the citizens confronting the suspect about the online conversations in a parking lot.
On Tuesday, February 2, the Riverside County Anti-Human Trafficking Task Force served a search warrant for Rawley’s apartment and vehicle. The search warrant resulted in the seizure of numerous electronic devices and Rawley’s arrest, according to the sheriff’s department. Jail records show that Rawley was charged with multiple felonies, including unlawful sex with a minor.
The Riverside County Anti-Human Trafficking Task Force has reason to believe there are additional victims in Riverside County and in Mohave County, Arizona. RCAHT is asking anyone with additional information to contact RCAHT – Deputy Mario Chavez at 951-422-1141 or 951-955-1700 and reference incident #R203250003.
All suspects are presumption innocent until proven guilty.
