Escondido man sentenced for sexually assaulting men using dating app

VISTA, Calif. — An Escondido man who sexually assaulted multiple men after luring them to his apartment through a dating app was sentenced to 41 years in prison on Tuesday. 

Tobias Bartee showed no emotion as Judge Brad Weinreb handed down the sentence at the Vista courthouse, describing the horrific acts Bartee committed inside his Escondido apartment. 

“You obviously knew they were not consenting to this activity,” Weinreb said. “You lured them there and then engaged in forceful or violent related acts to engage in sexual acts against their will – including the use or threatened use of a weapon.” 

The assaults occurred during the summer of 2023. Prosecutors say Bartee, a 29-year-old black male, created a fake account on the Grindr dating app, posing as a white male. When victims arrived for dates, Bartee told them they were there for his roommate and invited them inside, where he then sexually assaulted them. 

“He’s a very dangerous defendant,” said Deputy District Attorney David Jarman. “He used what’s known as catfishing to lure these unsuspecting victims to his apartment where he committed horrible acts of violence.” 

Jarman said it’s possible there are additional victims who have not come forward, possibly due to fear or embarrassment. 

“We would encourage people that may be victims of this defendant or other offenders to come forward as the three victims did in this case,” he said.

 Bartee was arrested in September 2023 and initially faced charges that could have resulted in a life sentence. He pleaded guilty to three felony charges – one for each victim – in exchange for the 41-year sentence.

 As part of his sentence, Bartee is required to stay at least 100 yards away from his victims and their homes, workplaces, vehicles and schools. He is also prohibited from any “unlawful, harassing or abusive conduct” toward them. Bartee will be required to register as a sex offender upon release.