Rancho Cordova jewelry clerk raises alarm, arrests sex offender on multiple charges involving minors

Concerns from a Rancho Cordova jeweler have led to the arrest of Scott Bartholomew Prange, a 44-year-old Tier-3 sex offender, for a series of alleged crimes involving minors. According to a report from the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office, Prange was looking for a “promise ring” with a 15-year-old girl when their interaction aroused suspicion, leading to his arrest in the parking lot by deputies and the Sacramento Sexual Assault Felony Enforcement (SAFE) Team.

After a brief investigation, it was discovered that Prange was not in compliance with his sex offender registration and had an active warrant for his arrest for violating his parole. Despite prior arrests, including fleeing state jurisdiction and possession of child sexual abuse material (CSAM), Prange was found to be in possession of thousands of CSAM videos, featuring infants and children who were both prepubescent and pubescent at the time of his arrest. Further investigation uncovered more disturbing allegations, including Prange producing videos in which he sexually abused a 7-year-old child and communicating with multiple minors in California.

In the detailed report from the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office, Prange is facing multiple charges, including digital penetration of a child under the age of 10, oral copulation with a child under the age of 10, lewd acts with a child under the age of 14, and attempted lewd acts with a 14 or 15 year old while being 10 years older. Other charges include sending harmful content to minors, intent to commit a sex offense after communicating with a minor, and arranging and arriving at a meeting with the intent to engage in lewd conduct. He is currently being held without bail in the Sacramento County Main Jail.

Investigators believe Prange stayed with several families where he had access to multiple children in the Sacramento, Placer and Butte County areas. He has also been linked to multiple counties in several states, including Kentucky, Washington and Michigan. Prange had contact with at least one other victim out of state, a 12-year-old girl, in Georgia.

The multi-agency investigation that brought Prange into custody included the Rancho Cordova Police Department, Sacramento County Probation Department, Citrus Heights Police Department, Lincoln Police Department, Merced Police Department, Morro Bay Police Department and the Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) unit of the Sacramento Valley Hi-Tech Crimes Task Force. The task force, known for its role in investigating child sexual exploitation, is expanding its reach throughout Northern California.

Authorities are now urging the public to come forward with any information about Prange or any possible unidentified victims. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Sheriff’s Office directly or anonymously through Sacramento Valley Crime Stoppers by phone, the “P3 TIPS” app, or online as the investigation continues to reveal the full extent of Prange’s alleged crimes and seek justice for the victims involved.