TYPE OF INCIDENT:  Sexual Assault Investigation

The El Cajon Police Department is asking the public for help in identifying victims related to the  sexual molestation of underage females  that occurred at a Motel 6 in the City.

   Inman Booking Photo        Cantrell Booking Photo

On 3/17/2023, an  employee of PATH (People Assisting The Homeless, a homeless services provider in San Diego) called the El Cajon Police Department, to report suspicious circumstances involving a client. The PATH employee met with the client, identified as 34 y/o Lawrence “Larry” Cantrell, at the Motel 6 on Montrose Ct, in El Cajon. Cantrell told the PATH employee, he and a friend had sexual contact with a minor while staying at the motel, and he had a recording of the incident on his cell phone. Cantrell was staying at the Motel 6 through PATH who has been paying for his room there for the past 5-6 days. Per the PATH employee, Cantrell was at the El Cajon motel because he was kicked out of his previous motel in San Diego for causing a disturbance. PATH has contracts with the County of San Diego, City of San Diego, and other agencies to provide homeless outreach. Cantrell is a convicted felon and a sex registrant (GPS- monitored ankle bracelet through SD County Probation).

Officers from the El Cajon Police Department responded to the motel and spoke with Cantrell, who admitted to having sexual contact with a girl he believed to be a minor. Cantrell told officers that his friend, 70 y/o Michael Inman, a sex registrant he met through PATH while staying at the Days Inn hotel on Ash St. in San Diego,   brought a young girl that Cantrell believed to be a minor, to his room. Cantrell questioned the young girl about her age multiple times because he believed her to be a juvenile. Cantrell told officers the young girl claimed to be an adult, but he believed she was a minor. After a short conversation, Cantrell  sexually assaulted and molested  the minor. Afterward, Cantrell and Inman engaged in sexual activity with each other. Cantrell learned that Inman had an explicit video of the minor from inside the motel room on his cell phone, so Cantrell sent the video from Inman’s phone to his own cell phone. Cantrell turned his cell phone over to officers and they confirmed Cantrell had a sexually explicit video of what appeared to be a juvenile female with Inman. Officers seized Cantrell’s phone. Cantrell provided officers with identifying information for Inman.

Officers located 70 y/o Michael Inman at the Days Inn motel in San Diego. Inman is a convicted felon who is on parole and is a sex registrant (GPS-monitored ankle bracelet through the California Department of Corrections). Inman was arrested and interviewed. Inman admitted to officers that he had the sexually explicit video on his phone, admitted that he knew the female in the video was a minor, and that he and Cantrell engaged in sexual acts with the minor in Cantrell’s room at the Motel 6 in El Cajon. Officers seized Inman’s phone. Inman described at least 2 additional  juvenile girls that he and Cantrell had sexual contact with in Cantrell’s room during the past week at the Motel 6.

Cantrell was arrested on drug-related charges. Inman was arrested on a parole violation and for possession of child pornography. They were booked into San Diego Central Jail. Detectives are continuing to investigate for additional charges.  

The El Cajon Police Department is attempting to identify potential victims of Cantrell and Inman. If you have any information related to this incident, please contact the El Cajon Police Department. 619-579-3311

PREPARED BY: Lt. Jeremiah Larson

DIVISION:  Public Information Officer

DATE AND TIME: 03/20/2023 0930 hours

REVIEWED BY: Captain Royal Bates

Mike Moulton, Chief of Police