Suspect Arrested After Communicating Online with What He Believed was a 14-Year-Old Girl; Other Victims May Exist 
 
September 21, 2024 – San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department officials report that on September 18, 2024, the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department Specialized Investigations Division, Crimes Against Children Detail, concluded an undercover chat operation. 

During the operation, Claudio Betancourt responded to a posting on an anonymous chat site by an undercover detective with the Crimes Against Children Detail. Betancourt initiated a conversation with the detective who was pretending to be a 14-year-old girl. Betancourt arranged to continue communicating with the undercover persona outside the original chat platform under the username “spicy_burrito15”.  During communication, Betancourt agreed to meet with the undercover persona to engage in sexual acts.

At the conclusion of the investigation, Betancourt was arrested and booked at the High Desert Detention Center in Adelanto for violation of PC 288(c)(1) Lewd Act on a Child 14 or 15 Years Old, PC 288.3(a) Contacting a Minor to Commit a Felony, PC 288.4(b) Arranging to Meet a Minor for Lewd Purpose, in lieu of $250,000 bail.

Detectives believe there may be additional victims and are releasing Betancourt’s photograph. Anyone with information regarding this incident is encouraged to contact Detective Wendy Winegar of the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department, Crimes Against Children Detail, at (909) 890-4904. Callers wishing to remain anonymous may call the We-Tip Hotline at 1-800-78-CRIME (27463) or leave information on the We-Tip website at www.wetip.com.    

DATE/TIME: Wednesday, September 18, 2024, at approximately 9:30 a.m.
INCIDENT: PC 288(c)(1) Lewd Act on a Child 14 or 15 Years Old
PC 288.3(a) Contacting a Minor to Commit a Felony 
PC 288.4(b) Arranging to Meet a Minor for Lewd Purpose
LOCATION: City of Victorville
SUSPECT: Claudio Betancourt, 24-year-old, resident of Victorville
Refer: Detective Wendy Winegar
Station: Specialized Investigations Division – Crimes Against Children Detail
Phone No. (909) 890-4904
Case No. 602400071

Source & photo: San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department