Former Santa Cruz County teen counselor charged with being child sexual predator

SCOTTS VALLEY, Calif. (KION-TV) -- The Scotts Valley Police Department said it conducted an undercover operation resulting in the arrest of a former teen counselor.

The department said Saturday that Ciriaco Johnson, 24, is charged with human trafficking, contact of minor with intent to commit sexual offense, and annoying/molesting a victim under 18 years of age.

Johnson served as a teen counselor at the Scotts Valley Boys and Girls Club from 2019 to 2023, according to police. The department said after leaving that position, Johnson stayed in contact with several of the young teens he had been counseling. He allegedly offered the teens money in exchange for sexual acts, pictures, and their silence on his solicitation.

Police added there is no evidence Johnson succeeded in sexually assaulting any minors.

The department's investigation started after a parent found inappropriate messages on their child's cell phone and contacted police. Officers began an undercover chat operation over social media. Police said Johnson was arrested Thursday evening after driving to Scotts Valley, intending to sexually assault a female minor he believed he'd been chatting with.

Anyone with additional information regarding this case is asked to contact the Scotts Valley Police Department at (831) 440-5670 or Detective Sergeant Pascale Drozek at pdrozek@scottsvalley.gov