Louis Lockard, a 39-year-old resident of Perris, was arrested on Friday after allegedly arranging to have sex with a minor, according to the Riverside Sheriff’s Department.
Deputies were called to a business in the 1800 block of Perris Boulevard just after 4:20 p.m. after a well-known advocacy group, Child Predator Catching Unit, posed as a child online and Lockard agreed to meet the child at the business, after arranging to have sexual relations.
When Lockard arrived at the business, he was confronted by members of the advocacy group, who then called deputies for assistance. A deputy determined that the evidence given to him obtained by the advocacy group was insufficient to make an arrest at the scene. Lockard was allowed to leave without being arrested.
Shortly after Lockard was released, additional deputies reviewed the details of the investigation and determined there was, in fact, sufficient evidence of a crime and continued the investigation.
Investigators worked with the advocacy group to obtain all evidence needed to assist in the investigation. Investigators conducted an extensive search of the area and located Lockard at a business in the 2100 block of Trumble Road in the City of Perris. Lockard was arrested for sexual communication with a minor and for arranging a meeting with a minor to engage in sexual conduct, according to the Riverside Sheriff’s Department.
Lockard is being held in lieu of $50,000 bail, according to jail records. He is scheduled to appear in court on October 5.
