Laytonville man arrested for alleged child sex crimes after calling police to report himself

The following is a press release from the Willits Police Department. The information has not been proven in court and any person described should be presumed innocent until proven guilty.:

On June 29, 2024, at approximately 8:30 p.m., the Willits Police Department received a report of a sexual assault on a 14-year-old female victim that had occurred earlier that afternoon.

Michael Santos DeJesus (a 33-year-old male resident of Laytonville) had contacted the Sheriff's Department dispatch to request that he be arrested at his home for sexual assault of a minor that had occurred in Willits earlier that afternoon.

The responding sheriff's deputy then transported DeJesus to the Willits Police Department, where Willits Police Department officers conducted an interview.

During the investigation and contact with the victim, it was determined that DeJesus committed violations of Penal Code 288(A) – lewd and lascivious acts on a child 14 years or older; Penal Code 288(C)(1) – sexual acts on a victim more than 10 years younger; and Penal Code 273(A)A – inflicting cruelty on a child.

Due to the seriousness of the crime and the potential danger to the public, an increase in felony bail was requested and bail was ordered set at $500,000 on June 30, 2024.

The Willits Police Department would like to thank the Mendocino County Sheriff's Office and the California Highway Patrol for their assistance in this investigation.

The Willits Police Department is continuing to investigate the incident and asks anyone with information regarding this investigation or other potential victims to call (707) 459-6122 to speak with Officer Pearson.