Sex with minors and drug offenses nearly doubled in the criminal case against a Watsonville man – Santa Cruz Sentinel

SANTA CRUZ – A 35-year-old Watsonville man who law enforcement said used social media to expose young teenagers to drugs and sex pleaded not guilty to the charges Monday.

Luis Alberto Salas remained jailed without bail this week after the Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office, the lead investigative agency in a multi-county collaboration, requested that he be held in the county jail last month to potentially allow additional victims to come forward according to court documents. As of Monday’s third amended complaint, Santa Cruz County Assistant District Attorney Jason Gill had identified seven unidentified “Jane Doe” victims in his criminal files.

In a filing early Sept. 4, Gill listed separate criminal investigations against Salas involving the cities of Santa Cruz, Capitola and Scotts Valley, as well as unincorporated Santa Cruz County. Gill wrote that Salas allegedly “poses too great a danger to the public if he is released.”

In the filing, the assistant district attorney stated, “The defendant puts the children of Santa Cruz County at extreme risk of death by providing drugs and alcohol to minors and also exposing children to sexual assault, even though he currently has a child abuse case pending.” Additionally, Gill stated, “We also view him as a flight risk given his lack of significant community ties, the charges in this case carry significant consequences, and simply put – we do not trust this defendant to keep his good word.” “