TAFT, Calif. – A 27-year-old California man, Matthew Macatuno Naval, has been arrested on suspicion of kidnapping and unlawful sexual conduct with a 10-year-old girl he allegedly met and groomed through online platforms Roblox and Discord.
According to the Kern County Sheriff’s Office, Naval was located and arrested on Sunday in Sacramento County after an urgent search for the missing child, who was reported by her family in Taft, California.
Online Interaction Leads to Abduction
The investigation revealed that Naval had been chatting with the young girl through Roblox and Discord, two platforms popular with children and teenagers. Police believe the conversations eventually led to the child’s abduction, though details of how Naval managed to lure the child from her home have not yet been released.
Law enforcement in Elk Grove, located just outside Sacramento, located Naval and the missing girl in his car at a local strip mall one day after the child was reported missing.
Naval was taken into custody on the spot and booked into the Sacramento County Jail, before being transferred to Kern County, where he is now being held on $250,000 bail.
His first court hearing is scheduled for Friday at 3 p.m. local time.
Law Enforcement Urges Online Vigilance
In response to the case, the Kern County Sheriff’s Office issued a public warning to parents about the dangers of digital platforms and the need for constant supervision of children’s internet activity.
“Parents, monitor all electronic usage and know who your children are communicating with,” the statement read. “Many apps and games have messaging capabilities and present the same, if not more, risk as social media platforms.”
Roblox and Discord Under Scrutiny
Both Roblox and Discord have previously faced criticism for how predators have used their platforms to target children. The incident adds to the ongoing concern surrounding online safety, especially in spaces where kids and teens interact with strangers.
Roblox, an online gaming platform with millions of users under 13, recently announced new safety tools, including features that allow parents to block users from their child’s friends list and restrict access to specific games.
Previously, Roblox implemented a default chat restriction for users under 13, preventing them from chatting outside of in-game environments or direct messaging without parental approval.
Discord, a chat and messaging app used widely among gamers, has also dealt with online exploitation concerns. The company has introduced teen safety alerts, content filters, and other safety measures.
A Discord spokesperson said the company has a “zero-tolerance policy” for abuse and exploitation, and that it cooperated with law enforcement in this case.
“As soon as we became aware of this matter, we provided information to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC),” the company stated. “We take decisive actions… and will continue supporting law enforcement in its investigation.”
Ongoing Investigation
The Kern County District Attorney’s Office has not yet confirmed whether Naval has obtained legal representation, and further details of the investigation may be disclosed at his upcoming hearing.
In the meantime, police continue to stress the importance of parental involvement in children’s digital lives.