Man charged after prince william county detectives investigate online contact with minor

Manassas, VA — A 30-year-old Manassas man has been arrested following a Prince William County Police investigation involving an underage girl who detectives say he contacted through social media while falsely claiming to be younger.

The Prince William County Police Department’s Special Victims Investigation Unit announced the arrest Tuesday after concluding an investigation tied to incidents reported in November 2025 near Croce Court in Manassas.

Investigators said the victim was younger than 15 at the time of the alleged offenses.

According to police, the suspect communicated with the girl online while portraying himself as an 18-year-old before arranging meetings in the area of Croce Court.

Detectives later identified the suspect as Cristian Romario Saenz-Argueta, 30, of Manassas.

Charges Filed Following Investigation

Following the investigation, Saenz-Argueta was arrested May 26 and charged with one count of rape and two counts of carnal knowledge, according to Prince William County Police.

Authorities said he is being held without bond while awaiting court proceedings.

Police have not released additional details about the investigation or said whether investigators believe there could be additional victims.

Key Points

• Prince William County detectives arrested a 30-year-old Manassas man after an investigation involving a minor
• Police said the suspect falsely claimed to be 18 while communicating online
• The suspect faces rape and carnal knowledge charges and is being held without bond

Investigation Began Earlier This Year

The Special Victims Investigation Unit said detectives worked for months to identify the suspect and review the allegations connected to meetings that allegedly occurred in the Manassas area in late 2025.

Authorities have not identified the social media platform involved.

Prince William County Police continue to investigate the case and encourage anyone with additional information to contact detectives.

As of Thursday, Saenz-Argueta remained in custody without bond pending future court proceedings.

Phil Stilton Latest posts

Phil Stilton is the Editor and Publisher of Shore News Network, an independent digital newsroom providing original reporting on New Jersey, national news, government, public policy, public safety, courts, and community affairs.

As founder of the publication, Stilton leads editorial strategy, investigative reporting, and daily newsroom operations while overseeing coverage that reaches millions of readers annually.

With extensive experience covering municipal government, county government, state legislatures, elections, law enforcement, emergency management, and public records, Stilton specializes in translating complex government actions into clear, factual reporting. His work frequently relies on primary source documents, including court filings, legislation, public meeting records, election finance disclosures, government databases, police reports, and Freedom of Information and Open Public Records Act (OPRA) requests. He has reported extensively on local government accountability, taxpayer spending, campaign finance, public corruption investigations, infrastructure, public safety, and the policies affecting New Jersey residents.

Under Stilton's editorial leadership, Shore News Network has grown into one of New Jersey's largest independent digital news organizations, publishing thousands of original news articles each year while providing breaking news coverage, investigative reporting, and analysis across state and local government. The publication's reporting is routinely sourced from official government agencies, public officials, court records, and firsthand documentation, with a commitment to transparency, attribution, corrections when warranted, and clearly distinguishing factual reporting from opinion.

Stilton's journalism follows established newsroom standards emphasizing accuracy, verification, fairness, and accountability. Every effort is made to verify information through official records and multiple reliable sources before publication. His reporting is intended to provide readers with timely, well-documented information that helps them understand the issues affecting their communities, while maintaining editorial independence from political parties, government agencies, advocacy organizations, and commercial interests.

Readers can submit story tips, corrections, public records, or media inquiries through the official Shore News Network website or its verified social media channels. Shore News Network welcomes corrections and updates when new information becomes available as part of its ongoing commitment to accurate and transparent journalism.