A 49-year-old man was arrested in Yucca Valley Friday on an Imperial County warrant, for allegedly contacting a minor for sex more than three years ago. According to an Imperial County Sheriff’s lieutenant, a Sheriff’s investigator was posing as a minor on the Internet. On September 11, 2017, Jose Romero of Yucca Valley, who believed the investigator was a minor, made contact and communicated via social media for about two weeks before making arrangements to meet in Salton City for sex. On September 22, 2017, investigators met Romero at the pre-arranged location. Jose Romero was arrested on suspicion of contacting a minor for sex, arranging to meet a minor for sex, and attempting lewd acts with a child, booked into an Imperial County jail, and released. When Romero did not show up for a follow-up court appearance, a warrant was issued for his arrest. Romero was arrested about 12:30 a.m. Friday morning near Joshua Lane and Hardesty Drive in Yucca Valley, and booked into the Morongo Basin Jail. Romero was released about 4:30 p.m. Friday on $100,000 bail.
