A registered sex offender is facing charges of arranging to meet an underage girl for sex through Craigslist, according to the Orange County District Attorney’s office.
Carlton Earl Griner, 55, Garden Grove, is charged with one felony count each of contacting a child with intent to commit a lewd act, meeting a minor with intent to engage in lewd conduct, and attempted lewd act upon a child under 14 years old.
If convicted, Griner faces a maximum sentence of 5 years in state prison and mandatory lifetime sex offender registration. Griner is being held on $100,000 bail.
Griner is required to register as a sex offender in California based on his prior conviction of possessing child pornography in Iowa.
Earlier this month, Griner allegedly posted an advertisement soliciting sex on Craigslist. Griner is accused of exchanging sexually explicit e-mails with a person who Griner believed was a 13-year-old girl but was an undercover Huntington Beach Police Department (HBPD) officer.
On Jan. 9, 2013, the defendant allegedly made arrangements with the undercover officer to meet in a shopping center. Griner is accused of driving to the location of the meeting spot with the intent to have sexual contact with the “13-year-old girl.” Upon arrival, HBPD officers arrested the defendant.
The investigation is ongoing. Anyone with additional information or who believes they have been a victim is encouraged to contact HBPD Detective Steven Fong at (714) 536-5960 or Supervising District Attorney Investigator Anthony Sosnowski at (714) 834-8794.
Deputy District Attorney Eric Scarbrough of the Sexual Assault Unit is prosecuting this case.
