A suspected child predator was taken off the streets in El Dorado Hills last week by means of a successful sting operation by law enforcement.
El Dorado County Sheriff’s Office (EDSO) High Tech Crimes Detectives arrested 41-year-old Joshua Mascitelli for soliciting a 13-year-old girl online last Friday afternoon, according a report released by the EDSO.
Mascitelli believed he was chatting with a young teenage girl and arranged to meet her at a public location near El Dorado Hills Town Center with the intention of having sex with her.
Unbeknownst to Mascitelli, he was actually communicating with undercover detectives who were conducting an internet crimes investigation, according to the report.
The detectives had been monitoring his online activity and were able to apprehend him at the arranged meeting location.
Mascitelli had driven from Concord, and brought condoms with him, as well as having booked a hotel room for the purpose of having sex with the underage girl. Instead, he was arrested and taken into custody by the EDSO, who are committed to protecting children from online predators.
The arrest of Mascitelli serves as a reminder during Internet Safety Month for parents to monitor their children’s online activities and to educate them on the importance of being cautious when speaking to strangers online. EDSO detectives urge parents to speak to their children about the dangers of talking to strangers online and to encourage them to speak to an adult should they ever feel uncomfortable or threatened.