Lemoore man arrested on charges of engaging in sexual acts with 16-year-old

After admitting the acts, Jonatan Mendez was then taken into custody and booked into the Kings County Jail on lewd and lascivious acts with a minor, possession and manufacturing of child pornography and committing a felony while out on bail. His bail was set at $245,000.

While investigating an unrelated case against Mendez, a search warrant for his cell phone was obtained by Lemoore Police Department detectives. The phone's data was later extracted and detectives located numerous videos of Jonatan engaged in sexual acts with at least two females who appeared to be minors. During the investigation they learned that one of the females was an adult and the other female was only sixteen.

On Monday, December 15, detectives interviewed Mendez at the Lemoore Police Department regarding the underage female. He admitted to being involved in sexual acts with the 16-year old female on more than one occasion, and he stated he knew what he was doing was illegal and that he was aware of the female’s age at the time.

Lemoore detectives investigated Mendez in August, 2014 regarding a report that he had been involved in sexual activity with a minor. He was interviewed and subsequently booked on various charges related to that investigation.

This is an ongoing investigation and anyone with information regarding this case is asked please contact Detective Avelar at the Lemoore Police Department (559) 924-9574 or (559) 925-6859.