February 25, 2024 - Sonora, California –– Tuolumne County District Attorney Cassandra Jenecke has announced that on February 20, 2024, Dominic Schmitz, originally of Minnesota, was sentenced to 6 years state prison. On January 23, 2024, he pled guilty to one count of Pandering by Encouraging a Minor Under 16 in violation of Penal Code section 266I(b)(2), one count of Pandering by Encouraging a Minor 16 or Over in violation of Penal Code section 266I(b)(1), and two counts of Contacting a Minor for a Sexual Offense in violation of Penal Code section 288.3(a). In addition to serving six years in state prison, Schmitz will be required to register as a sex offender in California for his lifetime.

Charges arose from an incident on September 23, 2023, where Schmitz approached four female Sonora High School students who were at Applebee’s during a homecoming event. Schmitz handed one of the students a card that had handwriting on it, which stated, “Have any teens for sell? Hit me up.” Also included on that card was a phone number and Cash App tag. Schmitz then left towards Safeway and returned to the area of Applebee’s where he was intercepted by a concerned Sonora High School teacher who held Schmitz at the scene while Sonora Police Department responded. During their pat-down search of Schmitz, officers discovered that Schmitz was aroused and in possession of box of condoms and a bottle of sexual lubricant. Later, during a subsequent investigation by the Tuolumne County Sheriff’s Office of the September 23, 2023 incident, Schmitz admitted that he preferred 14- to 16-year-old girls, was soliciting to find girls to set up a pyramid scheme, and that he intended to “pimp” girls out.

This case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Stephanie Novelli.
Source: Tuolumne County District Attorney