SANTA CRUZ — A longtime Santa Cruz High School employee may spend Christmas in jail after police arrested him this week at his Westside home on a 2-decade-old juvenile sexual assault charges.
Ronald Eugene Salinas, 63, worked as a part-time high school band staffer in 2001 when he allegedly sexually assaulted a student in the school band. The alleged assault took place at Salinas’ home, according to the Santa Cruz Police Department investigation.
The former student disclosed the assault this year to school officials, who reported it to the Santa Cruz police and who have provided ongoing investigation support.
Salinas continued working for the school through earlier this year, when he retired around the time the allegations were made, according to Santa Cruz Deputy Police Chief Jon Bush.
Salinas was arrested Thursday and has been charged by the Santa Cruz District Attorney’s Office with three felony charges, including two counts of oral copulation and one count of lewd and lascivious acts with a child under 14, plus two criminal enhancements.
Salinas remained held Friday in lieu of $75,000 bail at the Santa Cruz County Jail. He was scheduled for a court attainment Tuesday morning.
Police are asking anyone with information regarding the case or other cases involving Salinas to call the Investigations Division at 831-420-5820.