A Santa Barbara man pleaded not guilty last week to a charge he attempted to engage in sex acts with a teenage girl in Ventura County, according to the Ventura County District Attorney’s Office.

Samuel William Lafond, 35, entered the plea during his arraignment in Ventura County Superior Court on one felony count of luring a minor for sex.

During the week of Nov. 27, the county’s Child Exploitation & Human Trafficking Task Force conducted an undercover operation focusing on identifying suspects who were actively engaging in sexual conversations with underage children in internet chatrooms and on social media, according to the District Attorney’s Office.

Lafond was arrested Dec. 5 by the Oxnard Police Department’s Family Protection Unit after he allegedly traveled to Ventura County for the purposes of engaging in sex acts with a teenage girl.

“During the operation, it is alleged that Lafond engaged in sexual conversations with an undercover officer he believed was a 14-year-old girl,” the District Attorney’s Office said, adding that Lafond is a registered sex offender and had an outstanding felony warrant for his arrest.

Lafond remained in custody at the Ventura County Jail on Saturday, with bail set at $500,000.

He is due back in court Tuesday for bail review.

Lafond was on probation after pleading guilty in March 2022 to possession of child pornography and other charges. He was arrested in September 2021 in Carpinteria.