MURRIETA, CA — A 23-year-old Murrieta man accused of sexually assaulting a juvenile girl was taken into custody Wednesday morning, police said.
Detectives began investigating Sept. 2 after receiving a report that Reece Thomas Kennedy had sexually assaulted a juvenile girls in July, according to the Murrieta Police Department.
Investigators obtained an arrest warrant for Kennedy as part of the investigation.
Early Wednesday morning, police located Kennedy inside a parked vehicle along a roadway in an unincorporated area of Riverside County near Murrieta, police said.
When officers took him into custody, they discovered a second juvenile in the vehicle who had not previously been identified in the investigation. Detectives determined that Kennedy allegedly had sexual contact with the girl shortly before officers arrived, police said.
Police said the girl was safely reunited with her parents.
Investigators believe Kennedy used social media to contact both girls and arrange meetings, police said.
Kennedy was booked into the Cois Byrd Detention Center on multiple charges, including forcible rape, forcible oral copulation, unlawful sexual intercourse with a minor, sexual penetration with person under 16, oral copulation with person under 16, contacting a minor with intent to commit a sexual offense, according to the Murrieta Police Department.
According to court records, Kennedy is currently being held at Southwest Detention Center and is scheduled to appear in court on Friday.
Police said the investigation is ongoing.
Anyone with information related to the investigation was asked to contact Murrieta Police Department at 951-461-6404. Information can also be shared anonymously at murrietapolice.org.
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