Clayton Man Accused Of Arranging To Meet Minor For Sex: DA

CONTRA COSTA COUNTY, CA — A 40-year-old Clayton man has been charged with attempted lewd acts with a minor, arranging to meet a minor for sex and unlawful communications with a minor as a result of an investigation by the regional Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, the Contra Costa County District Attorney's Office said.

The investigation of Daniel Steven Paul began in early May when the task force learned Paul had been the subject of an investigation in a foreign country, in which it is alleged he distributed harmful material to someone he believed to be a minor, the DA's Office said.

"The investigation led agents to begin talking with Paul via text message and soon after making contact with him, Paul began to attempt to entice what he believed to be a 14-year-old girl into meeting with him for sex," DA's Office Spokesman Scott Alonso said.

Prosecutors allege that on May 20, Paul went to Hidden Lakes Park in Martinez with the intention of engaging in sex acts with a minor.

He was taken into his custody and booked at the Martinez jail.

A search of Paul's vehicle revealed he brought condoms and alcohol to the meeting, the DA's office says.

Paul pleaded not guilty Friday to four counts: attempted lewd act upon a child; meeting minor for lewd purposes; contact with a minor for sexual offense; and arranging to meet a minor for lewd purposes.

The DA's Office believes there may be more victims, and argued that Paul should not be released from custody.

The Contra Costa County Sheriff's Office confirmed Paul remained in custody Wednesday at county jail in Martinez.

The DA's Office noted that since the coronavirus related shelter-in-place orders went into effect, law enforcement agencies throughout the United States have seen a significant uptick in reports of online child exploitation.

Many of these cases involve adult suspects grooming minors into taking explicit images of themselves, the DA's Office says. Parents are encouraged to be on heightened alert for this behavior and take steps to both monitor their child’s online activity and having candid conversations with their children about the dangers of smartphone use.

The investigation into Paul was conducted by the multi-agency Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, which is managed by the San Jose Police Department.

In Contra Costa County, detectives and investigators from the Walnut Creek, Martinez, San Ramon, Danville, Pleasant Hill, Concord and Moraga Police Departments, the Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Office, United States Secret Service, Homeland Security Investigations, the Contra Costa County Probation Department, and inspectors from the Contra Costa County District Attorney’s Office participate in the task force.