Santa Ana Police Special Crimes Detectives arrested Michael Komoto, a 59-year-old male, for engaging in sex acts with a minor. Komoto met the victim, a 15-year-old boy, on the Grindr dating app. On Sunday, April 14, 2019, Komoto picked up the victim near his home. Komoto agreed to take the victim shopping in exchange for “making out” with him.
Komoto drove the victim to his business in the 1300 block of East Edinger Avenue in Santa Ana. Komoto engaged in sex acts with the minor victim. After assaulting the victim, Komoto took the victim shopping at South Coast Plaza. While shopping, the victim messaged a friend and said he was scared of the suspect. The victim’s friend picked him up and reported the crime to the Santa Ana Police.
On April 18, 2019, Detectives arrested Komoto at his business. Komoto was arrested and booked for engaging in sex acts with a minor. His bail has been set at $100,000.00.
Santa Ana Police Department Detectives believe there may be additional victims and ask anyone with information to contact Detective Julio Gallardo at 714-245-8378, jgallardo@santa-ana.org or Orange County Crime Stoppers at 1-855-TIP-OCCS. The Santa Ana Police Department would like to remind parents to closely monitor their child’s social media activity for any inappropriate content.
#1 on Grindr’s Terms of Service:
AGE RESTRICTIONS AND SAFETY. THE GRINDR SERVICES ARE AVAILABLE ONLY FOR ADULTS (INDIVIDUALS AGED 18 YEARS OR OLDER).
NO USE BY UNDERAGE PERSONS. NO PERSONS UNDER THE AGE OF EIGHTEEN (18) YEARS (TWENTY-ONE (21) YEARS IN PLACES WHERE EIGHTEEN (18) YEARS IS NOT THE AGE OF MAJORITY) MAY DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY VIEW, POSSESS OR OTHERWISE USE THE GRINDR SERVICES.
YOU MUST BE A LEGAL ADULT. YOU HEREBY AFFIRM AND WARRANT THAT YOU ARE CURRENTLY EIGHTEEN (18) YEARS OF AGE OR OVER (TWENTY-ONE (21) YEARS IN PLACES WHERE EIGHTEEN (18) YEARS IS NOT THE AGE OF MAJORITY) AND YOU ARE CAPABLE OF LAWFULLY ENTERING INTO AND PERFORMING ALL THE OBLIGATIONS SET FORTH IN THIS AGREEMENT.
What is a 15 year old doing on Grindr? Why is this guy about to have his entire life obliterated because a 15 year old lied? Why does Grindr not responsible for not monitoring their product? Why does the 15 year old not get held accountable for his own deceitful conduct?