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Waxhaw park encounter leads to multiple felony charges against California man

Union County investigators say a 24-year-old man traveled from California to meet a 15-year-old he met on Roblox. A bystander’s 911 call at Dogwood Park in Waxhaw prompted the investigation.

Waxhaw park encounter leads to multiple felony charges against California man
A 24-year-old California man faces multiple felony charges after traveling to Union County to meet a 15-year-old girl he had met online, authorities said. Daniel Castillo, of Oxnard, was arrested after a bystander saw the teenager getting out of his vehicle at Dogwood Park in Waxhaw and called 911, according to the Union County Sheriff’s Office. Investigators said Castillo and the girl first connected on Roblox and later communicated through messaging apps, including Snapchat. Castillo is charged with soliciting a minor by computer for sex, indecent liberties with a child and multiple counts of sexual exploitation of a minor. Arrest warrants also say he had alcohol and vaping products with him when he met the girl, leading to charges related to providing those items to a minor. Investigators said evidence recovered from digital devices indicated Castillo knew the girl was underage. “It is evident through what we have been able to find on the devices that he knew that this was an underage female,” Lt. Matthew Winfrey said. Winfrey thanked the person who reported the encounter, saying the call allowed law enforcement to investigate. He said the outcome could have been serious, though authorities do not know what might have happened. Castillo was initially held on a $200,000 bond before additional charges were filed. The information provided by authorities did not specify his current bond status. The charges are allegations; a criminal charge is not a finding of guilt.

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