MODESTO -- A Modesto Junior College student suspected of using Facebook to lure a 14-year-old girl into a meeting was arrested on suspicion of sexually assaulting the girl, authorities said Monday.
Donnell Young, 20, of Oakdale was taken into custody Friday at the campus by investigators, according to San Joaquin County Sheriff's Department spokesman Les Garcia.
Investigators would not reveal how they were alerted to the incident for fear it might compromise their case. They said they believe the suspect has tried to make contact with "numerous" females in the same manner.
Garcia said that Young, using such aliases as "Noah Camacho," "Andrew" or "Alex," built a rapport with the 14-year-old, and introduced a fictitious friend, saying the friend wanted to meet with the girl.
The assault occurred near Stockton, Garcia said.
Young also requested nude photos and is suspected of "sexting" with potential victims, Garcia said.
Garcia said the case serves as an important reminder to parents.
"We want to make sure to alert parents to be vigilant about their teens and their social media accounts," he said.
Garcia urges anyone who may have been approached on Facebook by someone matching Young's aliases to call Detective Terry Renberg at (209) 468-4424. Refer to case No. 12-1743.
The Federal Trade Commission offers these tips to help parents monitor their children's activities online:
• Help your kids understand what information should be private. Tell them why it's important to keep some things — about themselves, family members and friends — to themselves. Information such as their full name, Social Security number, street address, phone number, and family financial information — such as bank or credit card account numbers — is private and should stay that way. Tell them not to choose a screen name that gives away too much personal information.
• Use privacy settings to restrict who can access and post on your child's Web site. Some social networking sites have strong privacy settings. Show your child how to use these settings to limit who can view the online profile, and explain why this is important.
• Explain that kids should post only information that you — and they — are comfortable with others seeing. Even if privacy settings are turned on, some — or even all — of your child's profile may be seen by a broader audience than you're comfortable with.
• Talk to your kids about bullying. Online bullying can take many forms, including spreading rumors online, posting or forwarding private messages without the sender's OK, and sending threatening messages. Tell your kids that the words they type and the images they post can have real-world consequences.Encourage your kids to talk to you if they feel targeted by a bully.
• Talk to your kids about avoiding sex talk online. Recent research shows that teens who don't talk about sex with strangers online are less likely to come in contact with a predator.
For more tips on Facebook safety and pre-teens, click on the link with this story at www.modbee.com/local.
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