An Internet friendship between a 14-year-old Big Bear Lake girl and a 22-year-old male, and alleged sex registrant, from Illinois has resulted in an FBI investigation. Per the statement released today by the Big Bear Sheriff’s Station: “On April 21, deputies of the Big Bear Sheriff’s Station responded to a runaway juvenile call in the City of Big Bear Lake. The 14-year-old female left a note stating she was leaving home with her boyfriend. Deputies researched the juvenile’s phone records and found numerous calls made to, and received from, one particular phone number. The number, belonging to Ryan Michael Long of Rockford, Illinois, was called and Long was advised of the juvenile’s status as a runaway and that he needed to return the juvenile to her family. During the investigation, deputies discovered Long is a sex registrant and coordinated with deputies from the Sheriff’s substation in Baker, who detained Long and returned the juvenile to her family. The juvenile and Long were interviewed and they revealed they had been corresponding via the family computer, as well as texting and making calls via cell phones for several months. In addition, both subjects had engaged in various sexual activities in Long’s vehicle in both California and Nevada. Numerous felony charges were filed by the District Attorney’s office, each carrying prison sentences ranging from one to eight years. Because Long had traveled across state lines with the minor child, the Federal Bureau of Investigation was notified and is pursuing federal charges, which carry a minimum prison sentence of 15 years.”