Cathedral City man accused of arranging sex with boy

Detectives with the Cathedral City Police Department set up a sting operation after a 24-year-old man started contacting a 14-year-old boy online to meet up with the minor to have sex, according to a release from Lt. Glenn Haas.

Balwinder Singh of Cathderal City, who also goes by the name Gogga Saini, was arrested after the victim’s parents allowed a detective to pose as their son and continue online communication with the suspect.

The sting operation was set in motion after the CCPD received a cyber tip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC), indicating the suspect was sending ‘harmful matter intent of seduction of a minor’.

Officers said Singh had already tried to meet the boy one time in a local parking lot before the police department received the tip, but the meeting never took place.

The suspect continued contacting the minor for sex.

On Thursday, detectives set up the sting operation in a parking lot in Cathedral City. Officers said the suspect planned to meet the boy for sex and arrived at the agreed upon location with condoms and alcohol.

Police were waiting and arrested Singh in the parking lot when he arrived. The arrest took place at about 3:45 p.m. Singh was booked into the Larry D. Smith Correctional Facility in Banning on the following charges:

Sending harmful matter to a minor
Contacting a minor with the intent to commit a felony
Arranging a meeting with a minor for purposes of lewd conduct

Singh is being held on $75,000 bail and is due in court at the Larson Justice Center in Indio on Monday.

Authorities said it’s possible other victims may have been contacted by Singh. Even if a meeting never occurred, officers said any contact between the suspect and other minors should be reported to the police.

If you have information regarding other incidents or possible victims, you’re asked to call the Cathedral City Police Department at 760-770-0313.