“The health and safety of our children at daycare facilities is of great importance.  We must protect our youngest citizens from harm so that they may reach their full potential as happy, strong, productive individuals.  Investigating these types of cases is never easy and we express our deep appreciation to the detectives and DSS investigators.”

CSLEA President Alan Barcelona

WATSONVILLE – On February 14, 2025, the Watsonville Police Department announced that Ramon Castillo-Ruiz, 28, of Watsonville, is at the center of an investigation involving allegations of sexual abuse of a minor at a local daycare facility.

The victim, 11, recently came forward and reported the abuse. Watsonville detectives learned that the suspect allegedly molested the victim multiple times when the victim was between four and six years old and attending daycare. At the time of the suspected abuse, the suspect lived at a home on the 400 block of Rogge Street, where the daycare operated.

Watsonville detectives, with help from the Santa Cruz County Anti-Crime Team, served a search warrant at the daycare on February 13th, where they found several firearms and ammunition in the suspect’s room.

Castillo-Ruiz was arrested and booked into the Santa Cruz County Jail on charges of lewd and lascivious acts with a child under 14 and possession of a controlled substance. Based on the investigation, detectives believe there may be additional victims.

Watsonville police are working with investigators from the California Department of Social Services, which oversees licensed daycares in the state. The police department is also in contact with the U.S. Attorney’s Office, as the suspect has a pending case for federal charges involving firearms.