Man with ties to Santa Barbara preschools arrested in sex abuses
A former Santa Barbara resident is in a San Bernardino County jail accused of sexually molesting five children in Apple Valley near Victorville.
Police arrested Paul Hultman, 56, of Apple Valley after the parents of a girl confronted Hultman about the alleged abuse Sunday night. Five children from the victims’ neighborhood also came forward claiming that Hultman had been sexually abusing them in exchange for gifts and/or money. The victims include four girls between the ages of 12 and 15 and an 8-year-old boy.
Santa Barbara County sheriff’s detectives are also involved in this case. Hultman has ties to two Santa Barbara preschools and investigators believe there may be more victims. Hultman was previously married to the owner/licensee of the Sherwood Montessori School at 487 N. Turnpike Road, which closed in 2007. Hultman had the same association with the Sherwood Montessori House of Children at 5070 Cathedral Oaks Road.
Hultman is charged with the continual sexual abuse of a child and is being held on $1 million bail.
If you have any information about this case, you are asked to contact the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Criminal Investigations Bureau at 805-681-4150 or you can remain anonymous by calling 805-681-4171.
The following press release is from the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office:
Former SB Resident Associated with Two Preschools is Arrested in Sex Abuse Case Involving Five Children in Apple Valley
Santa Barbara- A former Santa Barbara resident who had ties to two preschools in the area until 2007 is in the San Bernardino County Jail charged with sexually abusing five children who live in Apple Valley, CA. 56-year-old Paul Hultman of Apple Valley was arrested on June 23 rd by Apple Valley Police. The Apple Valley Police Department contracts with the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department.
At around 3:43 p.m. on June 23 rd , Deputies responded to a disturbance call in the 16000 block of Winnebago Road. The parents of a girl confronted Hultman after finding out she had been sexually abused by Hultman. Deputies made contact with Hultman and transported him to the Apple Valley Police Station. San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Detectives responded and assisted with the investigation. Five victims from the neighborhood, including four girls ages 12 to 15 and an 8 year old boy, disclosed that Hultman was sexually abusing them in exchange for gifts and/or money. Hultman was arrested, transported to the San Bernardino County Jail, charged with the continual sexual abuse of a child and is being held on one million dollars bail.
Hultman was associated with the Sherwood Montessori School located at 487 N. Turnpike Rd. in Santa Barbara, which closed in 2007, and the Sherwood Montessori House of Children located at 5070 Cathedral Oaks Rd. in Santa Barbara. Mr. Hultman’s association with the schools stems from his previous marriage to the owner/licensee of both facilities.
Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office Detectives are conducting an investigation to determine if there are additional victims in the Santa Barbara area. If you have any information regarding this case, you are asked to call the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Criminal Investigations Bureau at (805) 681-4150. You can remain anonymous by calling the Sheriff’s Tip-line at (805)681-4171.
