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San Mateo County Sheriff’s deputies arrested a 19-year-old Pleasanton man after investigators said he used social media to prey on teenage girls, according to a sheriff’s office news release.
In July, sheriff’s deputies responded to a call involving a teenage girl who an unknown suspect had victimized, according to authorities.
William V. Coultrip, a 2023 Amador Valley High School graduate, was identified as the suspect by detectives using automated license plate reader technology, social media, and other investigative methods, according to the release.
Coultrip was arrested by San Mateo County deputies with help from the Pleasanton Police Department on Aug. 15 on charges of sexual penetration with a victim under 18, assault with intent to commit a felony, arranging to meet with a minor for lewd purposes, contacting a minor for sexual purposes, and sending harmful matter to a minor.
Investigators said that Coultrip used social media such as Snapchat to lure his victims by using aliases, including “John Kelly” and “Josh Foire,” to engage in hundreds of inappropriate conversations with underage girls.
Coultrip would then often drive to the victims or request they take public transportation to meet him in person, according to authorities.
The conversations that Coultrip engaged in included the exchange of child sexual abuse materials.
Investigators encourage any additional potential victims or anyone with information about Coultrip to come forward.
They can contact Detective Nicole Pitts at npitts@smcgov.org or 650-363-4060 or submit anonymous tips by calling the San Mateo County Sheriff’s Office Anonymous Tip Line at 1-800-547-2700.
