3 arrested in sex predator sting operation in Ventura after detectives pose as teens in online chat rooms

VENTURA, Calif. (KABC) -- Three alleged sexual predators have been arrested in Ventura after detectives posed as teenage girls in internet chat rooms, authorities announced Tuesday.

Christopher Allen Bouchard, 48, of La Crescenta, Reynal Reginio Guillen, 54, of Sherman Oaks, and Jose Juan Ramualdo-Posadas, 32, of Corona, were taken into custody without incident Friday after engaging in online conversations with investigators and arriving at an agreed-upon location, police said.

The multi-agency sting was conducted by personnel from the Ventura Police Department, Ventura County Sheriff's Department, District Attorney's Office and Human Traffic Enforcement Team, according to a news release.

Detectives, posing as 14- and 15-year-old girls, entered various chat rooms "primarily designed for teens," the statement said.

"As the investigation unfolded, adult male sexual predators got onto the same chat room and contacted the undercover officer," the news release said. "Each of the suspects engaged (the officer) in sexually explicit conversation, describing in detail what sex acts they wanted to perform with the teenage girl."

According to authorities, each suspect agreed to meet and pick up the girl at or near what they believed was the teen's home in the 2100 block of Victoria Avenue.

Bouchard, Guillen and Ramualdo-Posadas were booked into the Ventura County Jail, the statement said. They are each facing felony charges of distributing harmful matter for the purpose of engaging in sexual intercourse, arranging a meeting with a minor for lewd behavior and going to the arranged meeting place.

Anyone with information about the case is asked to call Ventura police at (805) 339-4343.