Man in San Ardo Arrested for Repeated Sexual Abuse of a Minor on March 20

 

On March 20, 2023, at approximately 9:45 am, Monterey County Child Protective Services contacted the Sheriff’s Office to report that they had received information about an incident involving the sexual abuse of a child. At that time the Sheriff’s Office Investigations Unit initiated a criminal investigation into the incident. The Investigations Unit contacted and interviewed the confidential juvenile victim. The Investigations Unit was able to determine that the suspect was utilizing a fake name and then determined his true identity. The Investigations Unit located the suspect identified as 48-year-old Jose Ruiz Santos of San Ardo and he was taken into custody without incident. A search warrant was then served at an address on the 20200 block of Cattleman Road in San Ardo where a forensic collection of evidence was conducted. The suspect was booked into the Monterey County Jail charged with Lewd Acts with  a Child Under 14 Years of Age, Oral Copulation with a Child Under 14 Years of Age, Rape of a Child Under 14 Years of Age, Lewd Acts with a Child Under 14 Years of Age with Force, Sexual Penetration of a Child Under 14 Years of Age and Continuous Sexual Abuse of a Child. Due to the repeated long term abuse of the child bail was initially set at $18,500,000.

Currently, this investigation is ongoing. It you were a victim and have information to share, or if you have additional details regarding this case, you are encouraged to contact Detective Daniel Hopkins 831-755-3814 or Detective Sergeant Nicholas Kennedy 831-755-3773 of the Monterey County Sheriff's Sex Crimes unit.