Big Bear City man arrested for soliciting minors for sale as prostitutes
Big Bear City resident arrested for soliciting minors for sale as prostitutes, among other related charges.
Big Bear Sheriff’s Station detectives arrested Eric Rauch, 44, on Tuesday after they determined Rauch was “targeting underage girls on social media for purposes of meeting them, having sex with them, and offering them for sale for sexual acts with others,” according to a news release by Big Bear Sheriff’s.
The Sheriff’s Department said Rauch was taken into custody through a sting operation where Rauch believed he would be meeting with two girls ages 15 and 16 after having communicated with them online. When Rauch arrived at the designated location to meet the fictitious juveniles, Rauch was taken into custody by Detectives without incident.
Rauch was booked on felony charges of pandering a minor child and sending harmful matter with the intent to seduce a minor, as well as a misdemeanor charge of arranging a meeting with a minor. Rauch remains in custody at West Valley Detention Center in lieu of $150,000 bail pending an arraignment hearing scheduled for May 31.
Detectives believe there could be additional victims.
Anyone with information is asked to contact the Detective Bureau of the Big Bear Station at (909) 866-0100. Callers wishing to remain anonymous can call the We-Tip Hotline at 1-800-78-CRIME (27463) or leave information on the We-Tip website www.wetip.com.
