Thessalonian Catrell Love – Mendocino County booking photo
In the business of crime reporting, we often come across unusual, comical, and ironic names that immediately draw one’s attention. Thessalonian Catrell Love was just that kind of name, but the seriousness of his crimes made him no laughing matter.
The 25-year-old Love resides in Apple Valley, a community in the high desert just outside of Victorville in San Bernardino County. According to the Mendocino County Sheriff’s Department, he had made contact via social media with a 15-year-old girl living in Point Arena, the small coastal town south of Fort Bragg, and famous for the picture-perfect lighthouse looking over the Point Arena State Marine Reserve along the rocky northern California coastline.
During Love’s contact with the girl, he had convinced her to send him nude photographs of herself, and he sent her sexually explicit messages. Evidence later showed that he was aware of her age and status as a minor, 10 years younger than him.
Love then traveled to Point Arena with the apparent intent to meet up with the girl. On Thursday, October 29, he made efforts to contact her, but the teen’s parents became aware of him, and alerted the Sheriff’s office at 9:25 that night. A Sheriff’s deputy began an investigation.
Port Road leads to the coast and Point Arena Wharf
With the information about Love in hand, the Sheriff’s Department began a search for the suspect. He was found at 1:14 am walking along Port Road, which leads to the Point Arena Wharf and Arena Cove Historic District. He was detained and the deputies discovered he had two bus tickets to Southern California, supporting their supposition that he had intended to convince the girl to leave home and travel with him to his Apple Valley residence.
Thessalonian Love was arrested and booked into the Mendocino County jail on charges of contacting a minor for sexual offense, intent to commit a lewd act with a minor, possession of child pornography, distribution of lewd material, and annoying or molesting a child. He was also found to be on probation from the San Bernardino courts for a previous arson conviction. He is being held on $200,000 bail.
