RANCHO CORDOVA – A Sacramento-area jewelry store employee was involved in the arrest of a suspect earlier this year who police say is a Tier 3 sex offender.

The suspect, 44-year-old Scott Prange, was looking for an engagement ring and purchased one for a 15-year-old girl in Rancho Cordova in February, officials said.

But the clerk at the jewelry store noticed how Prange and the teen were interacting and became suspicious, officials said, so the clerk contacted the sheriff’s office.

When officers arrived, they detained Prange in the parking lot.

There was an arrest warrant out for Prange for escaping from parole and for failing to comply with the requirements of his sex offender registry.

Deputies said he had been arrested several times, including for possession of child pornography.

When contacted, officials said he was in possession of thousands of videos of child pornography, including some involving young children.

Prange was taken to prison and is not entitled to bail.

Officials said he communicated with children across the state, including in Sacramento, Placer, Merced and San Luis Obispo counties. They also noted there was one victim in Georgia.

The Sheriff’s Office is asking for help in locating additional victims. Anyone with information is asked to contact the office.