SACRAMENTO (KTXL) — A man arrested for numerous sex crimes against children in northern California may have additional victims across the country, the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office has warned.
In February, Scott Bartholomew Prange, 44, purchased a “promise ring” for a 15-year-old girl in Rancho Cordova, according to the sheriff’s office. The jewelry store clerk observed the behavior between Prange and the girl and felt it was suspicious. Subsequently, the clerk called law enforcement.
The sheriff’s office said arriving deputies determined Prange was a convicted sex offender out of compliance with his registration who had a warrant out for his arrest for absconding from parole. At the time, Prange was considered a tier-3 sexual offender, which is the highest risk level for the most serious sex crimes, according to the Sacramento County sheriff.
“Prange had multiple prior arrests for absconding from parole, including fleeing the state, and multiple arrests for being in possession of child sexual abuse material (CSAM), commonly referred to as child pornography,” the sheriff’s office explained Tuesday.
Deputies reported finding thousands of sexually abusive videos involving infants and children in Prange’s possession.
Prange was arrested in February and remains in the Sacramento County Main Jail. He is not eligible for bail, authorities said.
During a follow-up investigation, detectives said they discovered that Prange, while out on parole, had produced additional videos of him sexually abusing a 7-year-old girl in Placer County. Prange was also in communication with multiple children across California, including Sacramento County, Merced County, Placer County and San Luis Obispo County, according to the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office.
Investigators say another victim, an 11-year-old girl from Georgia, was also identified.
Prange has been charged with digital penetration of a child 10 years and under, oral copulation with a child 10 years and under, lewd and lascivious acts with a child under the age of 14, possession and production of child pornography, and a slew of other sex crimes against children, according to the sheriff’s office.
“Prange is believed to have stayed with numerous families and had access to multiple
children in California’s Sacramento, Placer, and Butte County areas. Prange also has ties to
Jefferson County in Kentucky, Snohomish County in Washington, and Ingham County in
Michigan,” the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office said.
Detectives are now working to locate any other possible victims Prange may have contacted. If you have any relevant information, you are asked to contact the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office at (916) 874-5115 or Sacramento Valley Crime Stoppers at (916) 443-HELP(4357), 1-800-AA-CRIME. Tip information may also be left anonymously on the sheriff’s office website or by calling (916) 874-TIPS (8477).
