Reports Say He Stalked His Victims
SANTA CRUZ—Investigators with the Santa Cruz Police Department, on Saturday, May 24, have arrested 36-year-old Santa Cruz resident James Sharp on suspicion of sexual assaults on women that were too intoxicated to give consent.
On May 9, Mr. Sharp was initially arrested on a sexual assault case that was reported to police on May 6. The information about the arrest was initially withheld because officers needed to complete their investigation. Sharp’s own Facebook page notes on May 10 that he would be “Offline for a while guys.” His profile lists him as an employee Trader Joe’s in Santa Cruz.
During the initial arrest investigators served a search warrant at Sharp’s residence in the 800 block of California Street. While there, investigators found evidence that connected him to additional victims. It seems that Sharp had a propensity to collect trophies from his victims.
Investigators found photos and personal items of other victims. While reviewing the photos they found a picture of a woman who had reported a sexual assault back in April. It seems that the victim had been sexually assaulted after blacking out while in Sharp’s company.
James P.E. Sharp – Facebook images – pre-handlebar mustache on the right.
Apparently, he would meet these women and drink with them until they were at the point of blacking out, and were unable to adequately care for themselves. The victim who initially reported the case in April has since moved from Santa Cruz County. Investigators have located her and she has confirmed the identity of James Sharp. Armed with this information, investigators re-arrested Sharp, who was in a bar after posting bail in the first case.
Police requested that Sharp’s bail be increased to five million dollars. A Santa Cruz County Judge approved the increase in bail.
“Unfortunately, Mr. Sharp’s method of operation is often reported to the Santa Cruz Police Department.” Santa Cruz Deputy Police Chief Steve Clark wrote in a press release, “These type of cases are extremely hard to solve as there are often times very little information to go on.”
The Santa Cruz Police Department encourages any other victim of Sharp, or his “method of operation” call the Police Department 831-420-5800.
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