Petaluma Man Accused Of Molesting Multiple Children

PETALUMA, CA — A Petaluma man suspected of molesting at least three children while living at their family homes was taken into custody Monday morning, police said in a news release.

The arrest of 36-year-old Sergio Gonzalez-Guerra followed a yearlong investigation, Petaluma police Sgt. Paul Gilman said.

"In February 2020, a minor disclosed that she was sexually assaulted by a man who had been living with her family when she was 13 to 14 years old," Gilman said. "The minor disclosed several incidents of sexual abuse and believed that Gonzalez-Guerra had also sexually assaulted her sister who was approximately 12 years old at the time."

During additional interviews, Petaluma police Detective Matthew Parnow found a third potential victim who was 10 years old when Gonzalez-Guerra lived with her family at another Petaluma residence.

"She made similar allegations about the grooming behaviors used by Gonzalez-Guerra," Gilman said.

The suspected victims were interviewed at the Redwood Children's Center, a child advocacy center where child survivors of sexual abuse are interviewed by professional forensic child interviewers. The interviews are monitored by police, a deputy district attorney from the Sonoma County District Attorney’s Office, child sex assault advocates and child welfare workers, Gilman said.

"... Based on this investigation, we learned that Gonzalez- Guerra lived in at least 2 residences with access to children," Gilman said. "It’s alleged that he sexually abused 3 female children in those 2 residences."

Gonzalez-Guerra has since lived at several different addresses, police said.

His residence as of Monday was Sonoma County jail, where he was booked on suspicion of four counts of lewd or lascivious acts on a child under 14 years old by use of force, fear or violence; one count of lewd or lascivious acts on a child under 14 years old; and one count of committing lewd or lascivious acts on a child under 14 while acting as their caretaker.

Gonzalez-Guerra was being held in lieu of $260,000 bail Monday pending a court appearance set for Wednesday afternoon.

"People arrested are considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law, and the purpose of this press release is to ask any other potential victims to contact the Petaluma Police Department," Gilman said.

Police asked anyone with information regarding the case is to call Detective Parnow at 707-778-4444.