A celebrity Miami hair stylist arrested for allegedly trying to lure a child to engage in sexual conduct has pleaded not guilty.
Court records show state attorneys filed five criminal charges against 37-year-old Ryan Thomas Pearl, including unlawfully travelling to meet a minor, unlawfully using cell phone apps to seduce a minor, unlawfully sending a naked picture of himself to the minor, and purchasing and intending to deliver nicotine vape pens to a minor among others.
According to an arrest report, the victim is a 15-year-old girl who is a client of Pearl and who met him about two years ago, when she was 13.
The report said the girl’s mother discovered suspicious deposits made by Pearl on her daughter’s Apple Wallet account and inappropriate conversations between her daughter and Pearl sent through social media, and reported them to the police this summer.
“I was upset, I was like sick in my stomach. I was so disappointed, you know, like how could this happen to my daughter, but I know it happens everyday,” the girl’s mother, who didn’t want to be identified, told NBC6 in July. “What is a 37-year-old man doing asking a 15-year-old girl ‘what size of shoe are you? I want to make you happy, you’re pretty, let’s keep this between you and me.’ As soon as I saw that I knew his intention was to take advantage of my daughter.”
Miami Police set up an undercover operation, and detectives began exchanging messages with Pearl, authorities said.
“Maybe U will send me more selfies now, U deleted?” he wrote in one Snapchat message, according to the report. “Well U can sit on top of me while I kiss you.”
The report also detailed more explicit messages including pictures and videos of naked men allegedly sent to the teen’s account by Pearl. One photo showed Pearl lying on a couch naked, the report said.
“I am very shy please don’t, do U care that I am 15?” investigators posing as the teen responded, according to the report. “I don’t know how to do that, never seen one, you know I am a virgin, I’ve never had sex and I don’t know much of it, what if I get pregnant.”
They also discussed plans to meet and engage in sex acts with the use of condoms, the report said.
“We start texting him as if it was the 15-year-old. And in this conversation the things are so graphic, he’s telling her how to play with herself,” Miami Police spokesman Michael Vega said. “Our officer that’s on the other end sending the messages said, ‘you know I’m 15? You know I’m a virgin.’ And this didn’t phase him.”
When Pearl showed up at a location to pick up the teen, he was taken into custody, the report said.
In the car, police allegedly found a baggie with suspected pink cocaine, another bag containing condoms, and vapes, the report said. However, state attorneys decided to not prosecute Pearl for allegedly possessing the drugs.
Pearl admitted to buying a vape for the girl and asking her to be his girlfriend, the report said. He also admitted to sending her nude photos of himself and admitted to traveling to meet her, according to the report.
Pearl pleaded not guilty and is out on bond. He was ordered to stay away from the child.
According to his Instagram account, Pearl has styled the hair of celebrities such as Hailey Bieber and Sophie Turner. His account says he works out of Miami and New York City.
Earlier this year, police had said they’re still investigating and said it’s possible there could be more alleged victims.
“I just want to make sure this doesn’t happen again and it’s one less in the streets,” the teen’s mother said.
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