Casa Grande police have arrested Joel Disanto, 47, of Surprise in connection with an ongoing sexual exploitation investigation.

Police said the victim is a 15-year-old girl from Casa Grande.

Disanto was taken into custody by Phoenix police on Dec. 14 in north Phoenix, brought to Casa Grande and booked into the Pinal County Adult Detention Center, according to a release from Casa Grande police.

“CGPD will be submitting charges of sexual conduct with a minor, child sex trafficking and luring a minor for sexual exploitation to the Pinal County Attorney’s Office for review,” the release state.

Casa Grande detectives began the investigation in late October.

Police said information was discovered through social media sites used by the suspect and the victim.

“Detectives discovered significant information and evidence on Disanto’s social media accounts demonstrating sexual predator activities,” police said in the release, adding the suspect is a registered sex offender.

“This subject was an active sexual predator and a danger to minors not only in Casa Grande but from areas outside our city,” Casa Grande Police Chief Mark McCrory said.

“His actions on social media showed he reached great distances in attempts to engage minors by soliciting photos if the victims were not living in Arizona and would attempt to meet in person for sexual acts if they were Arizona residents.”