TURLOCK, Calif. — A man who allegedly conducted inappropriate phone conversations with a minor was arrested Tuesday on suspicion of attempted lewd acts with a child, police said.
Officers with the Turlock Police Department responded after a school employee’s report of an incident involving the student and the man, according to a department news release Wednesday.
The man reportedly handed food and clothing to the student near the school’s boundary fence, police said. School staff immediately called police after speaking with the student, police said.
Officers said they identified the man as Rene Arthur Ledezma, 52 of Modesto. He is employed as a bus driver with the city of Turlock, authorities said. Detectives met with and arrested Ledezma without incident at the end of a bus-driving shift Tuesday, police said.
Law enforcement reported Storer Transit Systems placed Ledezma on administrative leave pending the investigation's results.
The city of Turlock did not immediately respond to ABC10's request for comment on Ledezema’s arrest.
Police said a search of Ledezma’s and the minor’s cellphones revealed evidence of inappropriate conversations between the two.
Ledezma was then booked into Stanislaus County Public Safety Center and faces charges including contacting a minor with intent for sex and attempted lewd acts with a child, according to law enforcement.
Jail records show his bail is held at $300,000, and a court date for arraignment has not yet been determined as of 6 p.m. Wednesday
“At this time, there is no evidence of any other victims,” police said in a statement.
Detective Nathan Urban said the school employee’s initial reporting of the fence transaction is another example of ‘see something, say something’ working.
“Because a school employee felt that something inappropriate was taking place and reported it, Turlock police were able to act swiftly to ensure the safety of the student,” Urban said.
The department asks that anyone with information to report it to Urban at 209-668-6571 or to the Turlock Police Department’s tip line at 209-668-5550 ext. 6780.
People can also email tpdtipline@turlock.ca.us.
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