A man who is suspected of sexually abusing a 7-year-old child has been taken into custody and is currently being investigated for possible other offenses because of his affiliation with other youth organizations around California.
The Ventura County Sheriff’s Office announced on Thursday, raising the possibility that the suspect may be connected to further victims.
Robert “Bobcat” Villegas, a 34-year-old Ventura, California resident, was arrested earlier this month in Los Angeles County. Villegas had been trying to escape the state when he was captured, according to law police.
The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department assisted in the arrest, which was made at an unidentified location early on December 5, 2024.
Allegations that Villegas had sexually molested a 7-year-old child led to an inquiry and his arrest. The Sheriff’s Office underlined the gravity of the issue while withholding specifics of the occurrence that gave rise to these accusations.
Authorities have discovered during the inquiry that Villegas has been connected to other youth organizations around the state, which raises questions about his access to minors who are at risk and the potential for more victims.
At a press conference on Thursday, Ventura County Sheriff’s Office representatives encouraged anyone with information on Villegas’s activities or possible offenses to come forward. In order to guarantee that justice is done and to stop additional harm, they emphasized how crucial it is to find any additional victims.
People are encouraged to call the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office at 805-654-9511 if they have any pertinent information.
Tips can be submitted by calling 1-800-222-8477 to Ventura County Crime Stoppers if you would prefer to remain anonymous. The public has been told by authorities that every piece of information would be handled with the highest discretion and care.
Villegas is being imprisoned at the Ventura County Main Jail in downtown Ventura, California, at the moment. $100,000 has been established as his bail amount. He is expected to appear in court on Friday to answer to the charges against him, according to jail records.
More information about the case will probably be revealed by the court’s decision, which will also dictate the course of the lawsuit.
Anyone who may have interacted with Villegas, especially through his participation in youth organizations, is encouraged to come forward, the Sheriff’s Office said, underscoring their dedication to a comprehensive investigation.
To find out the whole extent of his operations and help any victims, law enforcement officials are working hard.
The safety protocols and background checks that youth organizations have in place to keep kids safe have been the subject of wider conversations as a result of this case. All organizations are being advised by the authorities.