A 22-YEAR-OLD MAN from Santa Ana has been arrested and charged with sexually assaulting a 13-year-old girl (Shutterstock).

A 22-year-old Santa Ana man was arrested Friday for child molestation.

According to the SAPD, Brayan Padilla-Gomez is accused of sexually molesting a 13-year-old girl that he had met online in October 2021.

Police are alleging that the suspect befriended the girl on social media and lured her with “the promise to provide drugs.”

He allegedly took her to his home where he assaulted her and video recorded the incident. After that he sent the video to a friend of the girl and attempted to repeat the method of luring with her, according to police.

The victim called police and SAPD detectives conducted an investigation and arrested Padilla-Gomez, who was booked into Orange County Jail for kidnapping and multiple child molestation charges. His bail was set at $1 million.

Concerned there may be more victims, police are asking anyone with information on this to contact Detective Jorge Gaeta at (714) 245-8706 or via e-mail at jgaeta@santa-ana.org .