ALAMEDA — Prosecutors here have filed child molestation charges against a 27-year-old man who allegedly sexually abused a 13-year-old boy after the two met on Snapchat, court records show.
Christopher Van Diggelen, of Alameda, was charged with counts of committing a lewd act on a child and one count of arranging to meet a minor to commit a sexual offense, all felonies. He was arrested in August and remains in Santa Rita Jail in lieu of $165,000 bail, records show.
Police say the victim helped investigators identify Van Diggelen by returning to social media weeks after the alleged molestation and obtaining pictures of his face.
The charges date back to last April, when the 13-year-old boy allegedly reached out to Van Diggelen on Snapchat. The teen told Van Diggelen his age early into their conversations, and later, Van Diggelen sent the boy a shirtless picture, according to police.
Related Articles
CHP: Oakland freeway race leads to death of driver
Pedestrian killed in Oakland hit-and-run
$100 a day for jury duty: Alameda County rate jumps from $15
Nearly two dozen arrested in Bay Area during statewide sting aimed at alleged burglary ring targeting marijuana businesses
Judge slams door on bail for East Bay swim coach, babysitter accused of molesting at least six boys
The two met at Crab Cove in Alameda, and that’s where Van Diggelen allegedly molested the boy. Weeks later, the boy decided he wanted to report the incident to police, but returned to Snapchat and made contact with Van Diggelen again. He later reported to police that Van Diggelen worked at a Domino’s Pizza, and shared the pictures of Van Diggelen’s face, authorities said.
The boy told authorities he was too scared to stop Van Diggelen during the sexual abuse and that when he protested, asking Van Diggelen if he knew how old the boy was, Van Diggelen replied, “old enough.”
Van Diggelen was arrested Aug. 15, and later admitted “to engaging in lewd acts with the minor,” police said in court records.
A judge is considering a motion to release Van Diggelen without bail while the case is pending. For now, he remains in custody, and prosecutors are opposing his release, court records show.
