Man, 45, Arrested For Soliciting Teen Boys On Social Media, Sharing Pornographic Content

A California man accused of sexually soliciting two teen boys and sending them pornographic content was arrested Wednesday following a sting operation conducted by the Placerville Police Department.

Cops launched a sting operation on Dec. 8 into allegations that Joshua John Bowen, 45, of Diamond Springs, El Dorado County, inappropriately contacted two teen boys, aged 13 and 16, through social media, The Sacramento Bee reported.

The juveniles informed their parents that Bowen had shared pornographic photographs and engaged them in inappropriate dialogue, according to a statement issued by the department on Facebook.

Given the evidence collected during the investigation, police confirmed Bowen did share pornographic material and solicited the young teens for sexual purposes. As part of the sting operation, the department's Crime Reduction Team placed Bowen under surveillance and arranged for him to meet one of the two teens at a local motel "for the purpose of engaging in sexual activities."

The moment Bowen was checking into the motel, Placerville Police patrol units and Crime Reduction Team took him into custody. He was arrested without incident and brought back to the department for questioning.

The accused was booked into El Dorado County on charges of contacting a minor for sexual purposes and sending or showing harmful material to seduce a minor, as per Mountain Democrat. Bowen also faces a misdemeanor charge of annoying or molesting a child younger than 18. His bail was set at $135,000.

An investigation was launched and detectives executed a search warrant at Bowen's home, where he was living alone. They confiscated his vehicle and other items as evidence from his house, including electronics, that will be examined by the El Dorado County Sheriff's Office High Tech Unit.

Meanwhile, authorities reminded parents and guardians that "social media is the most common medium used by sexual predators for these types of activities."

"The Placerville Police Department will use all resources available to protect those in our community," the department added.

Anyone with information regarding the investigation has been asked to call the Placerville Police Department Crime Reduction Team detectives at 530-642-5210.