Salinas Police seek information on inappropriate contacts with children
Release Date/Time: 7/21/2017 3:38 PM Release Authorized by: Spencer Critchley, Acting PIO The Salinas Police are seeking information on inappropriate contact with children that 32-year-old Jesus Ortega of Prunedale may have had. On July 6, 2017, the mother of a 13-year-old girl contacted the Salinas Police Department regarding some inappropriate messages she found on her daughter's email account. The inappropriate email conversations began in May of this year and were with an employee of the Santa Rita School District's IT Department. The case was forwarded to the Investigations Bureau and assigned to a detective. The family allowed the detective to take over the email account and the detective began correspondence with the adult suspect, Jesus Ortega, age 32. Over the course of a few days, Ortega repeatedly emailed what he thought was the 13-year-old female. The conversations turned sexual in nature and Ortega sent an explicit photograph. On July 20, Ortega set up a meeting with the victim with the intent to commit sexual acts. Detectives intercepted Ortega on his way to meet the victim and he was arrested without incident. A search warrant was executed at his residence in the Prunedale area, where electronic devices were seized. The Santa Rita School District is cooperating with the investigation and has been helpful with access to Ortega's work-related electronics. Ortega was transported to the Monterey County Jail and booked for charges that include:
The Investigations Bureau is asking for the public's help with information on any inappropriate contact Ortega may have had with other minors. Anyone who has such information is urged to contact Detective Jared Sivertson at (831) 758-7132 or jareds@ci.salinas.ca.us. Those who would like to remain anonymous can call the Police Department's Anonymous Tip Line at (831) 775-4222 or the We-Tip Line at (800) 78-CRIME. |