Westwood man, 34, accused of ongoing sexual abuse of minor arrested, remains held on $1 million bail
WESTWOOD, Calif., — Authorities yesterday announced that a lengthy, multi-jurisdictional investigation has led to the arrest of a Westwood man who now stands accused of sexually abusing at least one minor. The man’s charges indicate his victim or victims was or were younger than 14 years of age when the sexual abuse was occurring.
Contacted for more information today, neither Lassen County Jail nor administrative/dispatch officials could confirm the number of victims, but they did confirm the alleged suspect, 34-year-old Robert Cox, remains in custody in lieu of $1 million bail or bond.
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Lassen County sheriff’s detectives had sought an arrest warrant for Cox as part of “a lengthy investigation involving the coordination with multiple jurisdictions”, according to Lassen County Sheriff’s Sergeant Dustin Russell, who was not immediately available for contact or clarification of Cox’s charges or the number of victims.
Based on that warrant, on Feb. 4 detectives arrested Cox on his warrant, Russell said in a social media release issued yesterday.
He was later booked into the Lassen County jail on suspicion of two separate counts of continuous and ongoing sexual abuse of a minor under 14 years of age.
The department’s social media release did not specify if their case involved one or two minors, how Cox knew his victim(s) or how long the sexual abuse had been occurring.
SEE OTHER RECENT LASSEN COUNTY NEWS:
Local man arrested after months-long investigation into burglary of Westwood’s Iron Horse Saloon
Now missing four days, search for Lassen County man continuing
Citing the ongoing investigation, officials today declined to release any further details, but said that anyone with further information regarding Cox’s alleged criminal activities is urged to immediately contact the Lassen County Sheriff’s Office at (530) 257-6121. Callers can remain anonymous.
Contact the writer: [email protected]
Trevor Montgomery, 50, moved in 2017 to the Intermountain area of Shasta County from Riverside County and runs Riverside County News Source (RCNS) and Shasta County News Source (SCNS).
Additionally, he writes or has written for several other news organizations; including Riverside County based newspapers Valley News, Valley Chronicle, Anza Valley Outlook, and Hemet & San Jacinto Chronicle; the Bonsall/Fallbrook Village News in San Diego County; and Mountain Echo in Shasta County. He is also a regular contributor to Thin Blue Line TV and Law Enforcement News Network and has had his stories featured on news stations throughout the Southern California and North State regions.
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 30 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 18 grandchildren.