Full Notification

SANTA BARBARA, CA – February 12, 2015

Manuel Peter Munoz, age 65, of San Francisco was sentenced on February 9, 2015 by the Honorable Judge Michael Carrozzo to 75 years to life in prison, the maximum sentence possible for his crimes. He was convicted on December 9, 2014 of five felony counts of forcible child molestation against two separate victims following a 16-day jury trial. The case was presented by Santa Barbara County Senior Deputy District Attorney Paula Waldman.

Munoz’s crimes occurred in the City of Santa Barbara between 2007 and 2009; the victims are related to him. Munoz was arrested on October 16, 2013 by officers from the San Francisco Police Department on a $1,000,000.00 arrest warrant obtained by SBPD Crimes Against Persons Detective Crystal Bedolla following a six-month investigation.

ORIGINAL MESSAGE:

SANTA BARBARA, CA – October 23, 2013

Manuel Peter Munoz, age 63, of San Francisco was arrested for 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. The crimes occurred in the City of Santa Barbara between 2007 and 2009. The victims are related to Munoz.

Beginning in April 2009 detectives from the Santa Barbara Police Department’s Crimes Against Persons Unit started investigating information provided by mandatory reporters alleging that Munoz might be sexually abusing two boys. In October 2013 Detective Crystal Bedolla developed enough evidence in this case to obtain a $1,000,000.00 warrant for Munoz’s arrest. Investigation revealed that Munoz lived with the victims and their parents in Santa Barbara for approximately two years between 2007 and 2009. During that period, at times when Munoz was entrusted to care for the victims, he repeatedly molested them. The boys were approximately 6 years and 12 years of age at the time.

Detective Bedolla notified the San Francisco Police Department’s Special Victim’s Unit of the warrant she had obtained for Munoz’s arrest. On October 16, 2013 at 3:30 p.m., officers from the SFPD Tenderloin Station located Munoz at his residence on the 1800 block of Divisadero Street in San Francisco, arrested him, and booked him into San Francisco County Jail #1. On October 17, 2013 Santa Barbara County Senior Deputy District Attorney Paula Waldman obtained an increase of Munoz’s bail to $5,000,000.00. On October 18, 2013 Detective Bedolla and SBPD Detective Mark Vierra went to San Francisco, took custody of Munoz, and executed a search warrant at his residence. Following the search they transported Munoz to Santa Barbara and booked him into Santa Barbara County Jail on the aforementioned charges.

Investigation indicates that while in Santa Barbara Munoz may have had the opportunity to look after other children. Additional victims of Munoz, or anyone with knowledge of additional victims, are asked to contact Detective Bedolla at (805) 897-2426 / [email protected], or call anonymously to (805) 897-2386.

Photo provided by the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office.