Santa Barbara Man Arrested for Alleged Child Molestation
A 63-year-old Santa Barbara resident is in custody at the Santa Barbara County Jail and charged with allegedly sexually molesting five victims in Santa Barbara County. After a two month investigation, detectives with the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office and the Santa Barbara Police Department on September 10, 2014 arrested Joseph Michael Hyde in the city of Santa Barbara. Hyde was charged with multiple counts of lewd and lascivious acts with a child and showing pornography to a child.
The investigation began in July of 2014 when Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s detectives, along with detectives from the Santa Barbara Police Department, initiated an investigation into alleged child molestation. It was discovered during the investigation, that Hyde may have been molesting several children over a span of several decades in the city of Santa Barbara, southern Santa Barbara County and possibly in the state of Oregon.
The investigation by Sheriff’s detectives revealed five victims in Santa Barbara County ranging in age from two to 14. Hyde was acquainted with the victims.
Sheriff’s detectives are concerned there may be more victims out there. If you have information which may assist detectives in this case and/or help identify any additional victims, you are encouraged to call the Sheriff’s Criminal Investigations Division at 805-681-4150 or the Sheriff’s anonymous Tip-Line at 805-681-4171.
Address/Location
Santa Barbara County Sheriff
4434 Calle Real
Santa Barbara, CA 93110
Contact
Emergency: 9-1-1
Non-emergencies: 805-681-4192