Registered sex offender targets victims on social media dating sites

Dijon Darrell O’Neal was arrested last Wednesday and booked at Lancaster Sheriff’s Station on suspicion of rape, forced oral copulation and false imprisonment. Photo from LA Sheriff’s Department

LANCASTER – Sheriff’s officials are reaching out to the public in search of possible additional victims of a 32-year-old man accused of sexually assaulting victims he targeted on social media dating sites.

Dijon Darrell O’Neal was arrested last Wednesday and booked at the Lancaster Sheriff’s Station on suspicion of rape, forced oral copulation and false imprisonment for alleged offenses between Sept. 20 and Dec. 26. He was
being held without bail.

Sheriff’s officials said he lured four women through social media dating sites to a vacant residence in the 1100 block of Lingard Street, where he sexually assaulted them.

Investigators presume there are additional victims and on Tuesday released a public image of O’Neal in hopes that those individuals would come forward.

Deputies described O’Neal as 6 feet, 3 inches tall, weighing 290 pounds with black balding hair and brown eyes.

O’Neal was on active parole during the time of the alleged assaults and was also a registered sex offender, sheriff’s officials said.

Anyone with information was urged to contact the LASD Special Victims Bureau at 661-471-1500. Tipsters who prefer to remain anonymous can call Crime Stoppers at 800-222-8477.

Safety tips

When meeting someone new, whether online or offline, authorities advise keeping safety precautions in mind.

Dating sites or apps don’t conduct criminal background checks on users, so it’s up to each user to determine if it’s safe to meet up with someone.

One safety tip is to let someone know where you’re going and to meet in a public place for the first few times. Having a plan with a close friend, like sending an “I’m ok” text can be a good idea. More tips for staying safe on social media dating sites can be found here.