Rape Suspect Fugitive Surrenders to Authorities
Posted Bail and Fled the Area in 1998
Ramon Ceja, the suspect in a 1998 rape investigation who fled the area after he was initially arrested, turned himself in to Santa Barbara County Jail on April 24 and is now behind bars.
Sheriff’s detectives arrested 45-year-old Ceja 14 years ago on allegations of rape, burglary, and domestic violence. He posted bail and disappeared soon after. His information, though, has been posted on the Sheriff’s Department “Most Wanted” Web site and members of the department’s Felony Fugitive Unit started looking for him again last year.
Recently, authorities obtained information on an area address where Ceja was reportedly staying. But before they could investigate further, he willingly surrendered.
“The Sheriff’s Felony Fugitive Unit,” said a department spokesperson, “encourages the public to check the most wanted subjects on our webpage as well as the ‘Active Warrants’ list regularly as they are updated with new wanted subjects routinely.”
