Authorities have apprehended a Rialto man, Ricardo Flores, 59, following allegations of sexual assault linked to his role as a religious leader within a shamanistic community in Riverside County. The Riverside County Sheriff's Office reported that multiple individuals came forward on August 1 to file complaints about the alleged sexual offenses.
Investigations traced the incidents to various locations within the county, noticeably centered around a residence on Sandi Lane in Moreno Valley. Sergeant James Merrill, from the Moreno Valley Sheriff’s Station, stated that the accusations spanned several sites in the region. Flores was taken into custody while reentering the United States from Mexico.
Following his arrest on the morning of August 7, Flores was booked into the Robert Presley Detention Center, facing charges related to sexual assault and child sexual abuse. A pertinent announcement from the Sheriff's Department highlighted the ongoing investigation and the possibility of further unnamed victims.
The Investigations Bureau at Moreno Valley Sheriff’s Station is seeking additional information and urges potential victims or those with knowledge of these events to contact Lead Investigator Acevedo at 951–486–6700. In a press release, they underscored the value any testimony might hold in building a robust case against the accused.
