LAS LOMAS—The Monterey County Sheriff’s Office has arrested a 54-year-old Las Lomas man for allegedly soliciting sex from two young boys in north Monterey County.
Two boys, ages 7 and 11, said that a man who called himself Rene had asked them to perform oral sex on him, the Sheriff’s Office said. The children also said the man had shown one of them pornographic videos.
On Monday, detectives found “Rene,” who was identified as Edgardo DeJesus Castro of Las Lomas.
Castro was arrested during a traffic stop at Salinas Road and Lewis Road without incident, the Sheriff’s Office said. Detectives served a search warrant at Castro’s residence on the 400 block of Berry Road where they found child pornography and methamphetamine.
Castro was found to be an “out of compliance sex offender” and a previously deported felon, the Sheriff’s Office said. He was previously convicted of sodomizing a 13-year-old boy in Santa Cruz County.
Castro is known to frequent Watsonville and has several aliases, including Rene Dubon and Edgar Castro, the Sheriff’s Office said. He also frequents Santa Cruz, Las Lomas and Moss Landing. He currently works as a dishwasher, but has also worked in construction.
Castro was taken to Monterey County Jail on several sex offense charges. His bail was set at more than half a million dollars, the Sheriff’s Office said.
Detectives believe there may be additional victims in Monterey and Santa Cruz counties, especially in Latinx communities, the Sheriff’s Office said.
Anyone with information about Castro is asked to call Detective David Gonzalez at 831-755-3811 or Sgt. Bryan Hoskins at 831-755-3773.
