Suspected child predator nabbed in EDH Town Center

Noel Stack

Managing editor

El Dorado County sheri ’s detectives had a date with a suspected child predator Friday, June 2, arresting 41-yearold Joshua Mascitelli in El Dorado Hills.

The Concord man, who was unknowingly chatting with EDSO High Tech Crimes detectives online instead of an intended 13-year-old girl, reportedly arranged to meet the juvenile in a public location with the intentions of then having sex with the girl, according to an EDSO Facebook post.

“The suspect brought condoms with him and had already booked a hotel room for them to stay in,” reads the post. “Instead the suspect got a free stay in the El Dorado County Jail.”

Mascitelli was booked on suspicion of sending harmful and obscene material to a minor with the intent to have sex, contacting a minor with the intent of sex, arranging to meet a minor with the intent of sex (and a prior felony), attempting to commit a lewd act on a child younger than 14 and attempted kidnapping with the intent to molest a child. He was listed in custody at the Placerville jail with bail set at $235,000.

“As a reminder during Internet Safety Month, EDSO detectives are committed to protecting children from predators both online and o ,” EDSO o cials note in the social media post. “Parents should be diligent in monitoring their child’s online activities, as well as speaking to them about the importance of being careful who they speak with online and not being afraid to speak to an adult should something happen to them.”