Help Us Locate Man Wanted on Charges of Attempting to Solicit Minors for Sex
September 30, 2023 - Tuolumne County Sheriff's Office officials report that they are asking the public to help them locate Dominic Schmitz, anyone who sees Schmitz or knows of his whereabouts to please immediately contact TCSO at 209-533-5815.
On September 28, 2023, TCSO Detectives initiated an investigation into 27-year-old Dominic Schmitz for crimes involving contacting minors with sexual intent. Sheriff’s Detectives have interviewed several victims/witnesses and obtained video surveillance. During the course of this investigation, detectives have been made aware of two additional incidents where Schmitz has contacted minors in the downtown Sonora area.
The first incident was reported on September 23, 2023, by staff of Sonora Union High School to the Sonora Police Department. On September 23, 2023, Schmitz contacted several minors at a school fundraiser event at Applebee’s restaurant, in Sonora City. Schmitz provided one of the minors a business card with sexually suggestive language written on it. Following the initial Applebee’s incident, Schmitz was reportedly contacting Sonora High School students on Washington Street.
At this point in our investigation Schmitz’s behavior and actions lead us to believe he is actively targeting minors with the intent to solicit sex. The Sheriff’s Office wants Schmitz on the charges of, soliciting a minor for sex and annoying or molesting a minor.
All local and surrounding agencies are working together to locate and arrest Schmitz.
Schmitz is described as white male, 27-years-old, brown hair, bearded, blue eyes, approximately 6’ tall, 150 pounds. He was last seen wearing a white/light-gray hooded sweatshirt, dark colored pants, and dark colored shoes (As pictured in surveillance footage above).
On Thursday September 28, 2023, Sheriff’s deputies responded to a separate report of a sexual assault in downtown Sonora, where deputies arrested 47-year-old Davin Huhtala on the charge of sexual battery. Huhtala’s arrest is not related to Schmitz in any way.
Source & photos: Tuolumne County Sheriff's Office
