Full Notification

DATE/TIME: Wednesday, March 23, 2016 4:00 p.m.

INCIDENT: PC 288a(b)(2): Oral Copulation with a Person Under 16
PC 289(a)(2)(i): Penetration by Foreign Object
PC 261.5(d): Unlawful Sexual Intercourse

LOCATION: 800 Block of Washington Avenue, Colton

SUSPECT: Bill Lawler Jr., 22 year old male, resident of Colton

VICTIM: Female victim, age 15, resident of Colton

SUMMARY:
On February 22, 2016, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children made a report to the San Bernardino County Sheriff Department’s Internet Crimes Against Children Detail that an adult male resident of Colton, in San Bernardino County, was engaged in the solicitation of child pornography from a minor female. Detectives from the Crimes Against Children Detail, Internet Crimes Against Children Detail and the Central Station worked together to identify the female juvenile victim and adult male suspect. The suspect was identified as Bill Lawler Jr., a resident of Colton. The victim and Lawler Jr. were acquainted by living in the same neighborhood.

On Tuesday, March 15, 2016, detectives from the Crimes Against Children Detail and the Internet Crimes Against Children Detail contacted the 15 year old female, who disclosed sexual abuse and the solicitation of child pornography by Lawler. The abuse occurred between Thanksgiving, 2015, and March 2016.

Lawler was arrested on a warrant for sex offenses against a child and is being held on $500,000. bail. He is scheduled for arraignment on Friday, March, 25, 2016, in San Bernardino Superior Court.

The investigation is ongoing and anyone with information is encouraged to call the Internet Crimes Against Children Detail, Detective John Everman or the Crimes Against Children Detail, Detective Jennifer Burkhart at (909) 387-3615.

Refer: Detective Burkhart or Sergeant Dana Foster

Station: Specialized Investigations Division, Crimes Against Children Detail

Phone No: (909) 387-3615

Case No: 601600040

JOHN MCMAHON, Sheriff-Coroner
San Bernardino County Sheriff-Coroner Department