A 41-year-old Scotts Valley man suspected of molesting a 14-year-old girl was arrested last week and faces charges stemming from his interaction with the girl.
David Escobar, a mechanic, was taken into custody March 21 by officers from the Santa Cruz Police department following an interview at his workplace.
Detectives determined that Escobar had sent almost 3,800 text messages to the girl in one month and communicated with her via Facebook and gaming networks.
According to police, it also appeared that Escobar arranged to meet the girl at school during lunch on multiple occasions and engaged in sexual activity with her in his vehicle.
Escobar was scheduled to be arraigned Monday, March 26. He appeared in court and asked for a public defender, according to prosecutor Rafael Vasquez. He did not qualify for a public defender, however, and the arraignment was rescheduled for April 9. Vasquez said he hoped Escobar could hire a lawyer by the time
The girl is a Santa Cruz city resident, according to police.
Vasquez said Escobar could be charged with seven felony counts and one misdemeanor, including three felony counts of committing lewd acts with a minor, three felony counts of sexual penetration with a foreign object with a minor and one felony count of sending inappropriate pictures to a minor. The misdemeanor charge is for arranging a meeting with a minor with the intent to have sex.
Police were notified by a parent of the suspected interaction and investigated over the next several weeks before making the arrest. They are still working to determine if there are any other local victims.
Anyone with information can call Santa Cruz Police Department Investigations, 420-5820, or leave a tip online at www.santacruzpolice.com.
Escobar posted bail the day he was arrested.
