Wanted Santa Barbara Man Arrested in Guatemala

A Santa Barbara man who fled to Guatemala after he was arrested for allegedly molesting a 4-year-old girl in 1994 was recently apprehended, transported back to the United States, and booked into County Jail. Jeffrey Reed Parish, 64, remains in custody without bail

In June of last year, explained a Sheriff’s Department spokesperson, information about Parish’s felony warrant was released to the media, and he was later added to the department’s “Most Wanted” website. “Parish’s case was also referred to the FBI for assistance as it was believed that immediately after his arrest Parish had fled the country, possibly to Mexico, where he spent a few months out of the year visiting,” said the spokesperson in a statement.

Authorities eventually tracked Parish to a small town in Guatemala — Panajachel —where he was living under the name Blake. The FBI coordinated with Guatemalan law enforcement, which arrested Parish without incident. The Santa Barbara Sheriff’s Felony Fugitive Unit and FBI agents then flew south and escorted Parish back to the U.S. When he was originally arrested in 1994, Parish posted bail before his arraignment.

“The Santa Barbara Sheriff’s Office believes that during Parish’s time in Santa Barbara County in the early ’90s, Parish may have molested other victims before his arrest and subsequent flight from justice,” said the Sheriff’s spokesperson. “If you have any information on other individuals who may have been victims of Parish, contact the Sheriff’s Department immediately at (805) 681-4150.”