Santa Maria Man Arrested for Exposing Himself

SANTA MARIA – A man who was allegedly exposing himself to high school students in late January was arrested Monday for indecent exposure and booked at Santa Barbara County Jail, according to police.

Juan Mendoza

On Tuesday, Jan. 29, the Police Department received a report of a male suspect exposing himself to Pioneer Valley High School students as they walked to school, via a nearby housing development.

Officers conducted a search of the area for the suspect, but were unable to locate the man at that time.  He was described as a male with a thin mustache, and seen at one point wearing a wrestling-style mask described as a “Nacho Libre” mask by the victims, police said

During the next several days, Santa Maria officers conducted several searches for the suspect during the morning hours, as students walked to the school. All efforts to locate the suspect met with negative results.

However, at 7:30 a.m. on Monday, Feb. 4, the department received another report of a male matching the suspect’s description exposing himself to people in the area of the 900 block of N. Seneca, police said

Officer’s immediately responded to the area and apprehended the suspect after a short foot-pursuit.  The suspect, who was positively identified by a witness and a victim of the previously reported crime, was in possession of a mask, as reported by the high school student.

The suspect, identified as Juan Mendoza, 30, of Santa Maria, was taken into custody and also faces charges of resisting arrest.

Any other possible victims of this crime are urged to contact the Santa Maria Police Department at (805) 928-3781.

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