A 39-year-old Eagle man who has a history of going into businesses where women are alone and soliciting sex is charged with sexual battery of a minor child 16-to-17 years of age.
Detectives have evidence Christopher B Grenfell has walked into a variety of businesses – including tanning salons, Pilates studios, and retail stores — all over the Treasure Valley since May and asked women who work there to take nude photos of him.
Then he asks the women if they will have sex with him, saying it is part of a bet, and offers them part of his winnings from the bet as payment.
After the women tell him no and ask him to leave, there have been instances where Grenfell walks out — and then walks back in when other customers leave.
An employee of one of the businesses contacted Eagle Police last week to report what happened. That call led to several other leads – including a case from September that resulted in Grenfell’s arrest.
In that case, a witness says Grenfell walked into an Eagle-area business and solicited a female employee who is under the age of 18.
Detectives worked with multiple witnesses to identify Grenfell as the same man who walked into the businesses.
Once they were able to do that, members of the Ada County Sheriff’s Office ACTION team and U.S. Marshal’s Office GIFT task force found and then arrested Grenfell outside a restaurant in Boise Wednesday afternoon.
Grenfell is being held in the Ada County Jail.
Other charges are pending against Grenfell, who is set to make his initial court appearance Thursday afternoon.
The crime of sexual battery of a minor child 16 or 17 years of age by solicitation (https://legislature.idaho.gov/statutesrules/idstat/title18/t18ch15/sect18-1508a/) is punishable by up to 25 years in prison.
Detectives would like to hear from anyone who has had similar encounters or has any information about this case. If so, please call Ada County non-emergency dispatch at (208) 377-6790 or send an email to [email protected].