CONWAY, AR — Police in Conway say a California man accused of sexually assaulting a 13-year-old girl was arrested after investigators tracked him as he flew back to California and arranged for authorities there to take him into custody.
The Conway Police Department said it opened the investigation on October 27, 2026, after the girl’s mother learned what had happened and took her daughter to a medical facility for evaluation. Detectives then began working the case and identified 24-year-old Dylan Baker of California as the suspect.
Investigators say Baker met the juvenile online and traveled from California to Conway, where the alleged crimes took place. By the time police identified him, he had already left Arkansas.
Detectives trace the suspect as he leaves Arkansas
According to Conway police, Baker was already on a flight back to California when detectives confirmed his identity. Rather than wait for him to return on his own, investigators coordinated with law enforcement in California to have him detained as soon as he landed.
Police said Baker was apprehended shortly after arriving. The case moved quickly because detectives learned he was in transit and worked with agencies on both sides of the country to stop him before he could disappear further into the system.
The department said the effort depended on close coordination once it became clear the suspect had already left Arkansas. Conway police did not say how long the flight took or where in California he was held after landing.
State charges include rape and internet stalking of a child
Baker faces multiple charges in Arkansas, including rape of a victim younger than 14, internet stalking of a child, and traveling for the purpose of an unlawful sex act with a minor. The rape allegation is charged as a Class Y felony, the most serious felony category under Arkansas law.
Police said the other charges reflect both the alleged online contact and the trip into Arkansas. The case involves accusations that the encounter began online before the suspect traveled to Conway and committed the alleged assault there.
Authorities said Baker is now being extradited to Arkansas to face those charges. Court records were not included in the police statement, and no plea or attorney response was provided in the information released by the department.
Federal grand jury adds an interstate sex crime charge
In addition to the state case, a federal grand jury in the Eastern District of Arkansas indicted Baker on November 3, 2026, on one count of travel with intent to engage in illicit sexual conduct. The charge cites federal law covering sex crimes tied to interstate travel.
The indictment adds another layer to the case as prosecutors at both the state and federal levels pursue charges tied to the same alleged conduct. Conway police said the federal action came after the investigation had already connected Baker’s online contact, travel, and alleged assault.
The department did not say when Baker is expected to appear in Arkansas court or in federal proceedings. It also did not provide information about whether the state and federal cases will move on separate schedules.
Local and federal agencies work together on the arrest
The Conway Police Department thanked the Burbank Police Department, Homeland Security Investigations, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the U.S. Marshals Service for helping locate and arrest Baker. Police said those agencies worked alongside Conway detectives to make the arrest possible.
Officials described the cooperation as central to the case, especially once investigators determined Baker had left Arkansas and was already headed back to California. The arrest happened only after detectives were able to confirm his travel plans and coordinate with law enforcement where he would land.
Conway police said the teamwork helped bring the suspect into custody without delay and allowed the case to move toward extradition. The department did not release additional details about the investigative steps used to identify Baker.
Police urge parents to monitor children’s online activity
In a statement, Conway police said the department remains focused on protecting vulnerable children and holding people accused of crimes against minors accountable through the justice system. The message came as investigators emphasized the alleged online contact that led to the case.
Police also urged parents and guardians to stay aware of their children’s internet use and to keep open conversations going about online safety. The department linked that advice to the way the investigation began, after the victim’s mother learned of the assault and sought medical care for her daughter.
Authorities did not release further details about the juvenile, and the girl’s identity was not made public. Police said the case remains active as Baker is returned to Arkansas to answer the charges.
