Truckers aid arrest in underage luring case
Group livestreams confrontation with suspect at truck stop
A 30-year-old Yuma man was arrested Sunday night on felony charges after being captured on video by a citizen’s advocacy group allegedly trying to meet a 13-year-old girl at an area truck stop for sex.
Yuma Police Department spokesperson Sgt. Lori Franklin said that at approximately 10 p.m., Matthew James Sanchez went to the Loves Truck Stop, located at 2931 E. Gila Ridge Road, to meet the girl, whom he had been interacting with online. When Sanchez arrived at the truck stop, however, he was confronted by a member of “Truckers Against Predators” (TAPS) instead. The 23-plus minute encounter was recorded by the group and streamed via
Facebook Live.
“The group was using a decoy and started a conversation,” Franklin said. “The decoy specified she was a 13-year-old girl, and stated it several times afterwards.”
Franklin said after Sanchez left the truck stop, he went to his residence and called 911 to turn himself
in. for sexual exploitation, furnishing
The video, which has harmful items to been viewed more than minors and luring a minor 59,000 times since Sunday, for sexual exploitation. can be seen on TAPS’ He made his initial appearance Facebook page at www. in Yuma Justice facebook.com/TAPTruckers-Against-Predators-376941922710888/ Court before Justice of the Peace Greg Stewart, who Be informed him of the charges warned, the video does contain against him and set his explicit language. bail at $100,000.
Sanchez has been booked Sanchez will return to into the Yuma County Detention court on Wednesday for his Center on charges arraignment, at which time of aggravated luring minor he will be informed whether
a criminal complaint has been filed against him, and what charges, if any, it contained.
The Yuma Police Department encourages anyone with any information about this case to call them at 928373-4700.
James Gilbert can be reached at jgilbert@yumasun.com or 5396854. Find him on Facebook at www. Facebook.com/YSJamesGilbert or on Twitter @YSJamesGilbert.