Suspected Child Molester Arrested By Santa Cruz Police

SANTA CRUZ - Santa Cruz police have arrested a man suspected of inappropriate lewd and lascivious acts with a child, a preschool age girl.

47-year-old Timothy Ritchison, an El Dorado resident, was arrested Friday at his residence after Santa Cruz police received information from the victim's mother about the alleged molestations.

Police say Ritchison was known and trusted by the family.

According to Santa Cruz police, the case came to light when they responded to a report of a car burglary about 7:45 p.m. on Thursday, June 16. They say the reporting party was the victim’s mother.

Police say the mother had discovered video evidence of Ritchison molesting her child.

According to Santa Cruz police, the mother confronted Ritchison with the video, then fled in her car to an acquaintance's home to call the police.

While the mother and child were in the home, police say Ritchison allegedly shattered the passenger side window and stole the video from the car, then drove away from the scene.

Santa Cruz police are not disclosing the location of the incident and age of the victims to protect their identities.

In a collaborative effort with the El Dorado County Sheriff’s Department, a search warrant was served at Ritchison’s El Dorado residence.

Authorities say they took Ritchison into custody at 7:15 a.m. Friday morning, June 17.

According to Santa Cruz detectives, Ritchison confessed to the molestation. Authorities say the suspect gave multiple corroborating statements consistent with the victim’s allegations.

Timothy Ritchison was arrested and booked into the El Dorado County Jail on charges of lewd and lascivious acts with a minor and extradited to the Santa Cruz County Jail on a $250,000 bail.

Santa Cruz detectives say they are trying to determine if there are additional victims.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the Santa Cruz Police Department Investigations Unit at (831) 420-5820.