Investigators stated on Tuesday that a 66-year-old man who relocated to Idaho from Windsor, California, was recently taken into custody on charges of child molestation.
A representative for the Sonoma County Sheriff’s Office stated that because of the seriousness of the alleged crimes against minors, Richard Leslie Ward II, 66, is being remanded in custody without being granted $2 million in bail.
“On July 31, 2024, Windsor Police Department deputies began to investigate a child molestation case that occurred during the 1990s. The victims in this case came forward because they were worried the suspect may have been or is still molesting other children,” the sheriff’s office stated.
In order to look into Ward, Windsor police collaborated with the Sonoma County Sheriff’s Office and the Ada County Sheriff’s Office.
On August 14, detectives in Idaho gathered sufficient data and proof to take Ward into custody. He is being held in Ada County while he awaits extradition to Sonoma County, where he will be prosecuted on seven felonies related to child sex abuse.
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According to the sheriff’s office, “There could be more victims in Sonoma County and Ada County, Idaho. We don’t typically release information about sex crimes because we have a responsibility to protect victims and their identities. However, we strongly believe there may be other victims who live or have lived in Sonoma County or Ada County. Therefore, we are releasing this information and Ward’s booking photo.”
Call the Sonoma County Sheriff’s Office Domestic Violence/Sexual Assault Unit at 707-565-8290 if you believe you may be a victim.
