Colton Man Arrested for Sexual Assault of a Child

Police detained a Colton man on charges of kidnap for child molesting and other lewd acts with a child late last week. Lee Ruiz Ortega, 19, was arrested at his residence on the 1600 block of E. Washington Street after detectives identified him as a suspect in a reported sexual assault made to Colton police the night of Jan. 17. Officers were dispatched to the residence, which officers later determined to be a transitional housing unit for foster youths, on Jan. 17 after a juvenile reported that they were forced into the home on Jan. 13 and sexually assaulted, according to a release issued by the Colton Police Department. Detectives were requested to respond at that time and took over the follow-up investigation from patrol and Saturday night obtained a search warrant at Ortega's residence. Ortega was present and consequently detained, according to the release. Ortega was transported to the Colton Police Department, interviewed, and transferred to the San Bernardino County Jail where he was booked. The case was presented to the San Bernardino County District Attorney’s Office and on Jan. 21, the charges of kidnap for child molesting, sodomy, one count of lewd acts upon a child under 14 years old and oral copulation with a juvenile under 14 years old, were filed. Anyone with any information regarding this investigation or who may be a victim, is encouraged to contact Det. Mendez at 909-370-5020.