Sting leads to arrest of Rocky Ford man for child sex crimes

ROCKY FORD, Colo. (KRDO) -- The Colorado Springs Police Department's Metro Vice Unit made a trip to southeastern Colorado to help conduct an online sex sting that resulted in the arrest of a 26-year-old man in Rocky Ford.

CSPD said an undercover police officer was posing as a 16-year-old female and had exchanged messages with Randy Espinoza. Detectives learned Espinoza was in Rocky Ford, so they made a trip to arrange a meeting.

Espinoza went to a local business in Rocky Ford to meet up with an underage female for sex, police said, but he was met by officers. Espinoza then tried to run away, but he fell into a canal and was quickly arrested.

Detectives later found sexually explicit images that they believe are underage females; if you have information about Espinoza or the investigation, call police at 719-444-7512.

Police say Espinoza faces charges for solicitation for child prostitution and sexual exploitation of a child.