A Santa Rosa man was arrested this week on suspicion of posing as a talent recruiter to solicit women for sex acts — and later arranging to meet what he believed was a 14-year-old girl, police said.
Santa Rosa police identified 63-year-old Michael Tarvid as the suspect after learning he had used an email tied to a fake adult-film business to contact women, authorities said. Detectives allege Tarvid persuaded women to perform sex acts he recorded on his phone by presenting them as “audition” videos for future film projects and for clients seeking commercial sex.
Investigators later received a tip that Tarvid was also attempting to solicit minors, police said.
To follow up, an undercover detective posed online as a 14-year-old girl and began communicating with Tarvid electronically. Police said Tarvid believed he was speaking with a juvenile and arranged to film an audition video that he claimed would be sent to clients who wanted to pay for sex with the girl. He then scheduled a meeting with her on the morning of Dec. 2.
Around 9 a.m. that day, Tarvid took a taxi from his home on Venti Lane near Highway 12 to the Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit station in downtown Santa Rosa, where detectives detained him. Officers later searched his home and seized his cellphone, authorities said.
Tarvid was booked into the Sonoma County jail on charges including sending harmful material to seduce a minor, communicating with a minor with intent to commit a felony, and arranging to meet a minor for sex, among other allegations. His bail is set at $50,000. He is scheduled to make his first court appearance Friday in Sonoma County Superior Court.
Tarvid previously spoke with The Press Democrat in 2022 and 2023 about being a survivor of clergy sexual abuse. He was identified by name and photographed in those stories.
Authorities said they believe additional women may have had contact with Tarvid and are asking anyone with information to contact Detective Luigi Valencia at 707-543-4045 or lvalencia@srcity.org.
How to get help
These local, state and national contacts are available to help with various crises:
• National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline: 988 (call or text)
• National Sexual Assault Hotline: 800-656-4673 or online.rainn.org
• National Alliance on Mental Illness/Sonoma County, provides support groups and resources for families and individuals affected by mental health challenges: 866-960-6264
• 24-hour Emergency Mental Health Unit: 800-746-8181
• Redwood Empire Chapter of the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists: recamft.org
Resources also are available for those who have lost someone to suicide:
• Youth Survivors of Suicide Loss Support Group for ages 14-24, meets virtually second and fourth Tuesday every month, 4:30-5:30 p.m. by Buckelew Programs and the Felton Institute. Register and get the Zoom link at bit.ly/4atSS6x.
• SOS: Survivors of Suicide bereavement support group for adults 25 and older by Buckelew Programs, meets virtually the second and fourth Wednesday every month, 7-8:30 p.m. For the Zoom link, call/email 415-444-6000 or SOSinfo@Buckelew.org.
• Sutter VNA & Hospice offers several support groups, including those for survivors of suicide, children who have experienced a loss and parents who have lost a child. Call 707-535-5780 for more information.