Sex offender Eric Pineda in California was arrested

Earlier this week, a registered sex offender in California was arrested after Port St. Lucie police said he used a cellphone app to prey on a child in the local community.

Eric Pineda, of Murietta, California, is facing four felony charges: lewd or lascivious exhibition, promoting sexual performance by a child, lewd or lascivious exhibition using a computer and transmission of material harmful to a minor by electronic equipment.

Port St. Lucie police detectives were able to identify Pineda after a two day investigation, and obtained a warrant for his arrest. He was taken into custody in California by the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation and was being processed for extradition to St. Lucie County. Pineda is currently on parole after being released from prison last year for similar lewd and lascivious charges in California.

Called to comment on the situation, due to GOLDLAW’s expertise in representing victims of sexual abuse and sex trafficking cases, CEO and Founder Craig Goldenfarb said the Florida judge who handles this case may be much less lenient in sentencing Pineda if he is convicted in Florida.

“Because he was already defined as a sexual predator is one of those aggravating factors. It’s kind of like having your second DUI, or third DUI, the more times you do something, the worse the sentence is going to be because you may not be able to get rehabilitated. This is a guy who obviously can’t stop himself.”