A taekwondo instructor has been arrested in California over allegations of sexual assaults involving children in Petaluma and Santa Rosa dating back at least two years.
Luis Menjivar Chicas, 48, was detained on Saturday after officers stopped him in traffic and found an arrest warrant issued at the request of the Sonoma County District Attorney’s Office, police said.
The warrant followed investigations by Petaluma and Santa Rosa police into reports involving several juveniles. Chicas was booked into Sonoma County Jail, where bail was set at $250,000.
Police investigate allegations involving several children
Santa Rosa police began investigating a report of an alleged sexual assault involving a child in 2024, but investigators said there was not enough evidence at the time to pursue a criminal prosecution.
Police later received reports from at least two further alleged victims, who said they had been assaulted while they were minors over a number of years.
Petaluma police opened a separate investigation in January after receiving a report involving a 13-year-old. In April, two more juveniles reported alleged assaults which they said took place while Chicas was renting a room in their family home.
Police said they discovered during the investigation that Chicas had worked as a taekwondo instructor. Detectives are examining whether he was still teaching students when he was arrested.
He is accused of lewd acts with children, assault with intent to commit a felony against a juvenile, continuous sexual abuse of a child under 14, lewd acts against a child by force or fear and lewd acts involving a child under 14.
The investigation remains ongoing. Petaluma police have asked anyone with direct knowledge of the allegations to contact Detective Carlos Ramirez on 707-234-4540 or by email at cramirez@cityofpetaluma.org. Information relating directly to the Santa Rosa investigation can be provided on 707-543-3595.
The allegations have not been tested in court, and Chicas has not been convicted of any offence.
