SANTA PAULA, Calif. — An 80-year-old man and his 49-year-old son have been arrested on severe felony charges involving the repeated sexual abuse of three young girls spanning several years, Santa Paula Police Chief Don Aguilar announced.
The suspects, identified as Santa Paula residents Ramon Godinez Sr., 80, and Ramon Godinez Jr., 49, were taken into custody on Saturday, August 1, 2026, following the execution of a search warrant at their shared home.
Both men were transported to the Ventura County Pre-Trial Detention Facility in Ventura, where they are currently being held without bail.
Residential Search Warrant and Specific Penal Code Charges
According to an official media release issued by the Santa Paula Police Department, detectives concluded a lengthy inquiry involving three juvenile female victims. Investigators established that the offenses took place over a period of several years inside the family residence.
Detectives served a search warrant at the Godinez residence to gather physical and digital evidence corroborating the victims' accounts.
Following the search and subsequent suspect interviews, detectives filed numerous violent felony charges against both men under the California Penal Code:
- Ramon Godinez Sr. (Age 80):* PC 288(a): Lewd Act Upon a Child
- PC 288(b)(1): Forcible Lewd Acts Upon a Child (Multiple Counts)
- Ramon Godinez Jr. (Age 49):* PC 269(a)(5): Aggravated Sexual Assault Upon a Child (Multiple Counts)
- PC 288(b)(1): Forcible Lewd Acts Upon a Child (Multiple Counts)
- PC 288.7(b): Unlawful Sexual Acts with a Child Age 10 or Under (Multiple Counts)
- PC 136.1(b)(1): Dissuading a Witness from Reporting a Crime
The addition of California Penal Code Section 136.1(b)(1) against Godinez Jr. indicates that he actively attempted to intimidate or prevent victims or witnesses from reporting the abuse to law enforcement authorities.
"On August 1, 2026, Santa Paula Police Department detectives concluded child molest investigations involving a father and son as suspects... Ramon Godinez Sr., age 80 from Santa Paula, and Ramon Godinez Jr., age 49 of Santa Paula, were arrested for numerous child molest crimes," Santa Paula Police Chief Don Aguilar confirmed in an official advisory.
"The crimes were committed against three female victims who were minors. The molestation occurred over a span of several years. A search warrant was served at the home where Godinez Sr. and Godinez Jr. reside," police officials added.
Potential Additional Victims and Ongoing Public Appeal
Due to the extended timeline of the alleged offenses and the co-habitation of the two suspects, law enforcement authorities expressed concern that additional young victims may have been abused over the past decade.
Child sexual abuse investigations involving co-defendants inside a shared household present complex challenges for criminal investigators and victim advocacy groups.
When offenses persist across multiple years, child victims often face psychological manipulation, isolation, and direct threats intended to enforce silence. Specialized domestic violence and sexual assault units work closely with local child advocacy centers to provide trauma-informed forensic interviews, crisis intervention, and family support resources.
Law enforcement agencies emphasize that public outreach remains vital in multi-year abuse cases, as initial news releases frequently empower former victims or witnesses to step forward and share critical information that strengthens ongoing court prosecutions.
The Santa Paula Police Department is urging anyone who believes they or someone they know may have been victimized by Ramon Godinez Sr. or Ramon Godinez Jr. to contact lead investigator Detective Yvette Solis immediately.
Detective Solis can be reached by calling (805) 826-7512 or via email at ysolis@santapaula.gov. Members of the public can also reach Chief Don Aguilar for media inquiries at (805) 223-1731 or daguilar@spcity.org.
Anonymous tips can be submitted to Ventura County Crime Stoppers by calling (800) 222-8477 or visiting venturacountycrimestoppers.org. Official press releases can be reviewed on the Santa Paula Police Department Facebook page.