Temecula Girl IDs Corona Man In Sex Crimes Investigation

CORONA, CA — A 36-year-old man accused of engaging in sex acts with a 16-year-old girl he met via the internet pleaded not guilty Monday to a half-dozen felony charges.

Steven Michael Rawley of Corona was arrested just over a week ago following a Riverside County sheriff's investigation that was related to an earlier but separate sex crimes case.

In the current case, Rawley is charged with two counts each of unlawful intercourse with a minor and arranging to meet a minor for the purpose of committing a sexual offense and one count each of oral copulation of a child under 18 years old and furnishing a minor with marijuana — all felonies.

Rawley was arraigned before Superior Court Judge Judith Clark, who scheduled a felony settlement conference for June 4 at the Southwest Justice Center in Murrieta. The date coincides with the defendant's scheduled arraignment in the other case.

The judge also lowered the defendant's bail from $500,000 to $75,000 because he has no prior felony convictions. It was not immediately clear if he would be able to post the bond.

According to sheriff's Sgt. Robert Menchaca, members of the county's Anti-Human Trafficking Task Force were contacted last month by a 16-year-old girl, identified in court documents only as a Temecula-area resident, after she recognized Rawley from social media posts regarding his arrest in February.

The teen alleged that she encountered the defendant via an online chat platform, and he ultimately convinced her to meet him in person.

"The minor ... confirmed she was sexually exploited for money via social media," Menchaca alleged.

Sufficient evidence was obtained to issue an arrest warrant, and the defendant was taken into custody without incident at his Ridgeline Drive apartment on April 8, according to the sergeant.

In December, Rawley came to the attention of the task force after Hemet police learned he had allegedly been involved in the sex trafficking of a 15-year-old girl, Menchaca said. He said that investigation culminated in a search of the defendant's residence, with "numerous electronic devices" seized as evidence. Rawley was arrested but posted bail.

In that case, he was charged with unlawful intercourse with a minor, contacting a minor for the purpose of committing a sexual offense and disorderly conduct.

No details were available regarding the alleged victim or how she and the defendant met.