Eastside Teen Molested by Multiple Suspects

An ongoing investigation has determined that a girl from Santa Barbara’s Eastside has been allegedly molested by three separate men, two nearly twice her age. Though she is 13 years old today, the crimes started when she was just 12.

Detective Brain Larson initially responded to a report by Child Welfare Services after the victim’s parents found suspicious Facebook communications between the child and one of the perpetrators. During the investigation of the victim and her family, who live on the lower Eastside, Larson was able to determine that neighborhood acquaintance, Jonathan Mendoza Cisneros, age 25, was responsible for molestation against the child, and subsequently arrested the suspect on March 29, 2012, for felony child molest.

In addition to Cisneros, Larson’s further investigation found that the child was also molested by another acquaintance, Jose David Hernandez-Alecio, age 25. Larson then arrested Hernandez-Alecio on April 6, 2012, for felonies of child molest and penetration with a foreign object to a victim under 14 years old with the suspect greater than 10 years older. Both have been booked into the Santa Barbara County Jail with a bail amount of $100,000.

Detective Charlie Katsapis followed up a report with Planned Parenthood after being informed that a 13-year-old female had entered Planned Parenthood with concerns that she was pregnant. After admitting to having sexual intercourse with Martin Morales, age 19, who she considered her boyfriend, Planned Parenthood contacted law enforcement as per its mandated policy to report crimes of this nature. Katsapis and his partners recognized the victim as being the same girl as from Larson’s previous child molestation investigation.

Morales was arrested by Katsapis on June 6, 2012, for felony child molest charges and is being held at the Santa Barbara County Jail with a bail of $100,000.