San Bernardino Child Molestation Case Reaches S.B.

Paul Hultman, who was married to the owner of Santa Barbara schools Sherwood Montessori House of Children and the now-closed Sherwood Montessori School, has been arrested and charged with sexually abusing five children in Apple Valley in San Bernardino County. Investigators are now trying to determine if there are additional victims in the Santa Barbara area, said Sheriff’s Department spokesperson Kelly Hoover.

At around 3:45 p.m. on Sunday, said Hoover, San Bernardino deputies responded to a disturbance call. They found the parents of a girl, who said Hultman had sexually her, confronting the 56-year-old. The deputies took Hultman into custody and detectives responded to assist in the investigation. They soon learned, said Hoover, that Hultman was continually abusing four girls — ages 12 to 15 — and an 8-year-old boy in exchange for gifts and money. He was arrested and transported to San Bernardino County Jail where he’s being held on $1 million bail.

If you have any information on the case, Hoover said, you are encouraged to call the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Criminal Investigations Bureau at 681-4150 or the anonymous tip line at 681-4171.