HOLLYWOOD, Fla. – A 30-year-old man used Snapchat to connect with a 14-year-old girl and continued communication on WhatsApp, to sexually prey on her in Broward County, police said.
Police officers later identified Snapchat user “Jaiden” as Jacob Valdez and intercepted several of his messages to the teenage girl who lived in Hollywood.
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According to the Hollywood Police Department’s report, Valdez told the teen that he was from California and he wanted to marry her in Vegas.
“I know what I want. If I didn’t, I wouldn’t be risking going to prison for being with you,” Valdez wrote, according to the arrest report.
According to the arrest report, the investigation started on July 14 after Valdez connected with the teen on July 10 and a statutory rape happened at her home on July 12.
Valdez did not know he was declaring his love to an undercover police officer on July 15 and wrote he wanted another teenage girl in bed with them on July 23, according to the report.
Detectives reported Valdez arrived on a southbound Tri-Rail train to Hollywood and got on a Broward County public bus to meet the teen in person for a second time on July 25.
“I wanna shower too when I get there,” Valdez wrote on WhatsApp, according to the report.
Police officers were waiting to arrest Valdez after he opened the door of the teenage girl’s home in Hollywood. Police officers reported finding condoms and champagne on him, and seizing his cell phone.
Broward Sheriff’s Office inmate records show Valdez remained at the Paul Rein Detention Facility on Wednesday in Pompano Beach. He faced six felony charges and his bond was $280,000.
Valdez faced two counts of promoting sexual activity of a victim younger than 16; two counts of obscene communication use of a computer to seduce, solicit, and lure a child; and two counts of travel to meet a child after communication use of a computer to seduce, solicit, and lure a child.
Broward Circuit Judge Tom Coleman is set to preside over the case.
Detectives fear there may be more victims and asked anyone with information about this or other cases to call 954-764-435, or 954-967-4567, or Broward County Crime Stoppers at 954-493-8477.