A 51-year-old Red Bluff resident, identified by investigators as Thomas Dale Patrick Jr., was arrested today after what authorities describe as a seven-month investigation and now faces 32 felony counts alleging sexual abuse of a child. Deputies say he was taken into custody in the China Rapids Drive area of Red Bluff and is being held without bail at the Tehama County Jail. Patrick remains presumed innocent unless and until he is proven guilty in court.
According to Action News Now, the felony counts include a charge of continuous sexual abuse of a child and arise from allegations developed through a multi-county investigation that involved numerous interviews with victims and witnesses. That outlet reports investigators moved to seek an arrest and file a criminal complaint after roughly seven months of work on the case.
Investigation and arrest
Officials say the Tehama County Major Crimes Unit led the case and coordinated with law enforcement agencies in neighboring counties throughout the investigation. The sheriff’s office is asking anyone who may have information to call its tip line at (530) 529-7900.
What the charge means
One of the central accusations is a count of continuous sexual abuse of a child, a crime defined in California Penal Code Section 288.5. The statute applies when a person with ongoing access to a child under 14 is alleged to have committed three or more acts of sexual abuse over a period of at least three months. A conviction under this law can carry a state prison term of 6, 12, or 16 years and requires mandatory registration as a sex offender, according to the California Penal Code.
What happens next
Patrick remains in custody while formal charging documents and arraignment paperwork are prepared. The case is set to proceed in Tehama County Superior Court and will be prosecuted by the Tehama County District Attorney's Office. Court filings, hearing dates, and future proceedings will become part of the public record as the case moves forward.
Local context
The arrest comes amid a broader wave of child sex crime investigations in the North State. Hoodline previously reported on a separate federal indictment of a Red Bluff resident last year, highlighting the multi-agency attention on alleged crimes against children in the area. Local officials say collaborative work between county investigators and federal partners continues to be a priority.
Anyone with information related to this investigation is urged to contact the Tehama County Sheriff’s Office at (530) 529-7900 or share details through established local law enforcement tip channels.
