Suspected child abuser in custody with 15 felony counts

A man has been found in his Los Angeles residence for allegedly raping a minor. - CBS 13 on your side's Vanessa Gongora reports

CALEXICO, Calif. (KYMA, KECY) - The Calexico Police Department arrested a man Thursday July 7th, 2022 accused of sexually abusing a minor for a period of seven years.

Saul Martinez Sanchez has been charged with 15 felony counts of child sexual abuse, according to the Calexico Police Department.

Calexico Sergeant Manuel Ceja confirmed there were 11 counts of forcible rape with a minor under the age of 10, three counts of sodomy on a minor and one count of continuous sexual abuse on a minor.

The alleged abuse came to light once the minor said she became pregnant by Martinez Sanchez.

"So the Calexico Police Department received a front counter information report from a parent alleging her daughter was sexually molested and possibly raped by a family member," says Sgt. Ceja. "We are learning from investigation and interviews and our evidence, that it approximately started at the age of six and continued through the age of 13."

The Los Angeles County US Marshalls assisted Calexico Police in the arrest and found Sanchez in his LA home.

Sanchez was then escorted under arrest to the Imperial County jail where he was booked and currently detained with a $5 million bail.

Sanchez was arraigned in the Imperial County Superior Court July 8th, 2022 and entered a plea of not guilty and denied all allegations.

Sgt. Ceja says during the interrogation Sanchez admitted that there are two other victims.

Now, the police department is asking the community for help in this ongoing investigation.

"We're asking the public's help in assistance," says Sgt. Ceja. "If there's any other victims either here in the Imperial Valley or Los Angeles County area or in Mexicali, Mexico, due to him having ties to Mexico and having family members in Mexico, please contact our agency and give us any details or any leads to any further victims."

You can contact the Calexico Police Department at 760-768-2140.