Man, Deported to Mexico, Back in Rice County Facing Charge of Soliciting a Girl for Sex On Facebook

A man who was deported to Mexico this year for being in America illegally is back in Rice County after being extradited to face a criminal charge of electronically soliciting a child.

Juan Jose Lazaro-Ojeda, 32, on Monday pleaded guilty in Rice County District Court to using Facebook for three months to try to convince a 12-year-old girl to engage in sexual activities with him.

He was living in Northfield at the time of the communication.

The girl went to the in March 2011 to tell police of the sexually-charged messages, which she said happened both in person and on the Internet, according to a criminal complaint filed with the court. She told police that the man, who was identified as the father or stepfather of a friend, initially told her in November 2010 that she was beautiful and had a beautiful body.

The initial comments happened in Lazaro-Ojeda’s living room as the girl waited for her friend before school, according to the charge. Lazaro-Ojeda drove the two to school.

The girl later opened a Facebook account and the defendant told the girl he wouldn’t tell her parents of the account if she sent him “sexy pictures” of herself, the complaint says. She did not send him any pictures, but she said Lazaro-Ojeda kept sending her messages about her looks and body, the complaint says.

The girl told police that on one occasion the man kissed her and then later asked via Facebook if she liked the kiss. Later, according to the charge, Lazaro-Ojeda asked if she had ever had sex, if she wanted to have sex and if he wanted to feel her body against his. He also told her that he loved her.

Investigators found more than 200 messages on Facebook from Lazaro-Ojeda to the girl.

The girl told police that Lazaro-Ojeda forced her to kiss him three or four times and felt it had developed into a relationship, similar to that of a boyfriend and girlfriend. The girl was afraid to tell her parents because she didn’t want to get into trouble for having a Facebook account, she told police.

On March 31, 2011, Northfield investigators learned that Lazaro-Ojeda was in Ramsey County Jail pending an immigration detention hearing. 

At that time, Lazaro-Ojeda told police that he and the girl were friends on Facebook and had exchanged messages. He said it was like “boyfriend-girlfriend” chat, but said he had told the girl that it wasn’t possible because of her age but said “she looked like she was 17 years old,” the complaint says.

Lazaro-Ojeda told police that she asked him about sex and said he did not seek her out and hadn’t sought out other girls her age.

Lazaro-Ojeda has been in Rice County Jail since Sept. 26, when he made his first appearance in court. He would need to post a $100,000 bond to get out of jail or a $50,000 bond with conditions, which would include not leaving Minnesota, not contacting the victim and no use of alcohol or drugs.

Lazaro-Ojeda's sentencing is scheduled for Dec. 20. He faces up to three years in prison and a $5,000 fine.