Child molestation investigation identifies Santa Rosa man as suspect
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SANTA ROSA // Police have arrested a 38-year-old Santa Rosa man after identifying him as a suspect during a child molestation investigation involving several children.
During preliminary investigation, an officer spoke with two of the victims, who alleged that they had both been assaulted by the same family acquaintance. The investigation was soon handed over to the Domestic Violence/Sexual Assault Investigations Team, who arranged for several lengthy interviews with the victims.
It was through these interviews that detectives determined the assaults had started with one victim and continued between the years of 2009 and 2011. The second victim was reportedly assaulted beginning in 2016, with the assaults continuing up until several weeks ago.
The victims’ current ages range from under 12 to legal adult. As the investigation continues, Santa Rosa PD is declining to provide any additional victim information out of respect for their privacy.
Based on information gathered during the interviews, detectives began surveilling the southwest Santa Rosa home of Daves Mendez Rodriguez on the morning of January 10th. He was arrested as he left the home at around 8 AM and booked at the Sonoma County Jail on $1,000,000 bond.
He is charged with:
- Sexual assault of a child under 14 (288.5 PC – Felony)
- Two counts of rape by force or fear (261(a)(2) – Felony)
- Four counts of sex acts with a child under 10 (288.7(b) – Felony)