Sheriff’s Detectives Want to Hear From Possible Victims of Accused Child Molester

The Fresno County Sheriff’s Office is casting a wide net in hopes of finding possible victims of an accused child molester who previously was a Fresno church youth minister.

Francisco Dejesus Bautista

Sheriff’s detectives arrested Francisco Dejesus Bautista, 38, of Fresno, on May 19 and booked him into jail on felony child molestation charges. His bail is $250,000 and he remained in jail as of Friday morning.

Sheriff’s spokesman Tony Botti said that the investigation of Bautista began following a complaint called into the sheriff’s office. Detectives found that Bautista had molested two young girls, Botti said.

According to the sheriff’s office, detectives believe there’s a strong possibility that Bautista has molested other children. According to jail records, Bautista has black hair and brown eyes. He is 5-foot-1 and weighs 145 pounds.

Anyone with information about Bautista or potential victims is asked to contact detective Jose Leon at (559) 600-8205 or Crime Stoppers at (559) 498-7867, www.valleycrimestoppers.org.