Accused Child Molestor Arrested

Santa Barbara police arrested Manuel Peter Munoz, 63, of San Francisco for sexually molesting two boys from 2007 through 2009.

Munoz lived in the same Santa Barbara home with the victims and their parents. He is also related to the boys who were just 6 and 12 years old during the alleged molestations. Police said Munoz was entrusted to care for the children when the crimes occurred.

Santa Barbara detectives notified San Francisco Police Department’s Special Victim’s Unit of the arrest warrant. On October 16th, officers arrested Munoz at his home on the 1800 block of Divisadero Street.

Munoz faces charges that include continuous sexual abuse of a child while residing in the same home of a victim under 14 years of age; committing a lewd act upon a child under 14 years of age by force, violence, duress, menace or fear of great bodily injury to the victim or another person; and intimidating a witness or victim.

Munoz was transported back to Santa Barbara and booked into county jail with bond set at $5 million.

Investigators believe there may be other victims. Anyone with information is asked to call Detective Bedolla at 805-897-2426.