Crime & Safety

Canadian Man Arrested for Online Sexual Relationship With San Mateo Teen

Adam Ouellette, 26, allegedly flew to SFO from Canada to have sex with the 16-year-old San Mateo girl.

A Canadian man has been arrested for allegedly engaging in an online sexual conversation with a 16-year-old girl in San Mateo, police said Wednesday.

Adam Ouellette, 26, of Calgary, Alberta, was arrested twice in connection with the case, most recently on Tuesday night in San Diego, San Mateo Police Sgt. Dave Norris said.

San Mateo people became involved when detectives received information from the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force that Ouellette was participating in an online conversation with the teenage girl, according to Norris.

Find out what's happening in San Mateowith free, real-time updates from Patch.

"The conversation appeared to indicate that Ouellette was intending to meet the underage girl for sex," Norris said.

San Mateo detectives pursued the conversation, posing undercover as the "girl" online.

Find out what's happening in San Mateowith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Ouellette arranged to fly to San Francisco International Airport to meet with the "girl" for sex the evening of March 19. 

San Mateo detectives, the Calgary Police Service and the Southern Alberta Internet Child Exploitation Team maintained surveillance as Ouellette boarded the plane in Calgary.

Special agents with US Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and the San Mateo County Sheriff's Office Airport Division at SFO also aided in the surveillance.

Upon his arrival at SFO, Ouellette was arrested. He was ultimately booked into San Mateo County Jail on suspicion of Attempted Statutory Rape, and Arranging to Have Sex With a Minor.

In the follow-up investigation, however, San Mateo detectives discovered the presence of child pornography on an electronic device possessed by Ouellette.

Detectives, learning that Ouellette had bailed out of San Mateo County Jail on the initial booking, obtained an additional arrest warrant from the San Mateo County Superior Court for Possession of Child Pornography and some additional charges related to Arranging Sex with a Minor.

With the assistance of the San Diego Police Department, Ouellette was located and arrested at a relative’s home in San Diego early Tuesday evening.

Safety Message from San Mateo Police:

This media release serves as a stark reminder to parents and children alike. Parents - talk to your children about their online activities -  make sure that they understand the dangers that exist in cyberspace, and the permanence of any information or images that they place online. The Internet is an incredible resource, but it can also be a dangerous place.

Also on San Mateo Patch:

San Mateo Police Arrest Suspects Linked to Numerous Robberies
Peninsula Humane Society Offers Advice for Wildlife Encounters

Former Aragon Coach Gets Prison Time for Sexually Abusing Student
San Mateo Seeks Economic Development Manager


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