Santa Barbara – With the Norman Rockwell concept of a nuclear family at the heart of our culture just a distant memory, and with contemporary societal concerns for the welfare of children having surely transformed the adage that “the family that plays together stays together” into something of a sneering pun, it remains sadly true that most victims of child abuse and sexual molestation are targeted by their own relatives.
Such appears to be the case that came to light on the night of June 12th when, according to Santa Barbara Police Department Public Information Officer Sgt. Riley Harwood, SBPD Officer John Nelson “responded to a local youth shelter to admit a juvenile seeking accommodation.” As any indication of possible crimes against children require aggressive law enforcement investigation, Nelson’s interview of the young female indicated that she was a runaway seeking refuge from “sexual and physical abuse” at the hands of Miguel Montes Lopez, 42, a member of her own family.
That evening Nelson had the alleged victim admitted to the local youth shelter and his investigation into the matter immediately ensued. With both Santa Barbara County Child Welfare Services and the Santa Barbara Rape Crisis Center quickly involved, the victim was questioned by professional counselors, which led authorities to the suspicion that she had been the victim of sexual and physical abuse at the hands of Lopez over a recent period of months.
Based upon that evidence, a search warrant for Lopez’s residence was promptly obtained along with a $100,000 felony arrest warrant for him. On the following afternoon, June 13th, Detective Charlie Katsapis led a team of officers to the Coronel Place home of Lopez where they contacted and arrested him without incident.
Lopez was transported to Santa Barbara County Jail where he was booked on charges of felony child molestation and child abuse, with his bail set at $100,000.
Photo: Courtesy Santa Barbara County Jail Booking
Read more:
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Noozhawk: Santa Barbara man accused of sexual, physical abuse
