The Investigation Takes Shape (Image Credits: Unsplash)
Riverside County investigators dismantled an alleged online predator scheme last week, leading to the arrest of a licensed school psychologist. Paul Ryan Coleman, 46, from Yucaipa traveled to Riverside on March 12 expecting to meet a 13-year-old child. Instead, members of the Riverside County Child Exploitation Team took him into custody after a three-month probe revealed hundreds of sexually explicit messages.[1][2] The case underscores the persistent dangers of online exploitation and the effectiveness of undercover operations in protecting vulnerable youth.
The Investigation Takes Shape
An undercover investigator posed as a 13-year-old child online, drawing Coleman into explicit conversations. Over three months, Coleman exchanged hundreds of sexually explicit messages, authorities reported. He initiated contact and escalated the exchanges, prosecutors alleged.[3]
The Riverside County Child Exploitation Team monitored the interactions closely. Investigators built a case methodically, ensuring all evidence aligned with legal standards. On March 12, Coleman drove from his Yucaipa home to Riverside for the arranged meeting. Team members arrested him upon arrival.[4]
Coleman’s Professional Role Exposed
Coleman served as a licensed school psychologist at Nuview Union School District. He worked specifically at Nuview Bridge Early College High School in Nuevo, east of Perris. The district placed him on administrative leave immediately upon learning of the investigation. He resigned last month and will not return for the coming school year.[5]…