Man caught having sex with girl inside car at Menifee park

MENIFEE — Authorities today announced the arrest of a Menifee man they say was caught by deputies while having sex with an underage girl, early Thursday morning, June 13. The alleged incident that led to the man’s arrest a week later happened in the area of Menifee’s Discovery Park, adjacent Ethan A. Chase Middle School, between Heritage Lake and Calm Horizon drives.

Because of the methods and social media platforms the alleged suspect used to lure the victim, officials believe that other, as-yet unidentified girls may have been victimized by the man they allege lied about his age and background while convincing the juvenile to meet with him.

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Deputies assigned to Menifee Police Department were patrolling within the city around 2:30 a.m., when they spotted suspicious activity happening inside a car parked at the location, Riverside Sheriff’s Sgt. Aaron Avila reported in a press release dated Friday, June 21.

When deputies contacted the two people inside the parked vehicle “they discovered the vehicle was occupied by a male adult and a female juvenile,” Avila said in today’s press release. The man was later identified as Jacob Manuel Sanchez, a 20-year-old Menifee resident.

Deputies arrested 20-year-old, Menifee resident, Jacob Sanchez after catching him engaged in “lewd acts” with a juvenile last week. RSO booking photo

According to Avila, Sanchez and an unnamed girl were engaged in “lewd acts,” which were later determined to be criminal in nature due to the victim’s unspecified age.

During their subsequent, week-long investigation, deputies determined Sanchez and the victim met through various social media platforms, through which the suspect identified himself as a juvenile.

“(Sanchez) made her believe he was under the age of eighteen,” Avila explained, saying, “It appears there could be additional victims who have not come forward at this time.”

Based on their investigation, deputies arrested Sanchez at the Perris Sheriff’s Station yesterday evening at 5 p.m., jail records indicate. He was later booked into Cois Byrd Detention Center in Murrieta on suspicion of meeting with a minor for lewd purposes and annoying or molesting a child. Both charges are misdemeanors.

Sanchez was released the same evening of his arrest after posting $5,000 bail and is scheduled to be arraigned at Riverside’s Hall of Justice, Aug. 16.

Anyone with information related to this investigation or who believes they or someone they know may have been victimized by Sanchez is encouraged to contact Deputy Matt Cook at (951) 210-1000. Callers can refer to incident file number ME191640015 and can remain anonymous. Citizens may also submit a tip using the Sheriff’s CrimeTips online form.


Contact the writer: [email protected]

Trevor Montgomery, 47, moved last year to the Intermountain area of Shasta County from Riverside County and runs Riverside County News Source and Shasta County News Source. Additionally, he writes for several other news organizations; including Riverside County based newspapers, Valley News, The Valley Chronicle, and Anza Valley Outlook; as well as Bonsall/Fallbrook Village News in San Diego County and Mountain Echo in Shasta County.

Trevor spent 10 years in the U.S. Army as an Orthopedic Specialist before joining the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department in 1998. He was medically retired after losing his leg, breaking his back, and suffering both spinal cord and brain injuries in an off-duty accident. (Click here to see segment of Discovery Channel documentary of Trevor’s accident.)

During his time with the sheriff’s department, Trevor worked at several different stations; including Robert Presley Detention Center, Southwest Station in Temecula, Hemet/Valle Vista Station, Ben Clark Public Safety Training Center, and Lake Elsinore Station; along with other locations.

Trevor’s assignments included Corrections, Patrol, DUI Enforcement, Boat and Personal Water-Craft based Lake Patrol, Off-Road Vehicle Enforcement, Problem Oriented Policing Team, and Personnel/Background Investigations. He finished his career while working as a Sex Crimes and Child Abuse Investigator and was a court-designated expert in child abuse and child sex-related crimes.

Trevor has been married for more than 28 years and was a foster parent to more than 60 children over 13 years. He is now an adoptive parent and his “fluid family” includes 13 children and 15 – but soon to be 16 – grandchildren.

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