Man suspected of sexually abusing missing young people

PLEASANT HILL – Contra Costa County prosecutors have charged a 27-year-old Pleasant Hill man with nearly two dozen crimes after they say he sexually assaulted two juveniles, authorities said.

Police arrested 27-year-old Alejandro Gabriel Sainz on Oct. 21 when they investigated a missing juvenile and found that juvenile with another at Sainz’s apartment complex in the 600 block of Old Quarry Road, according to a statement from Pleasant Hill Police Sgt. . Christopher Anderson.

Both victims were under the age of 16, authorities said.

Court records show that prosecutors have charged Sainz with 14 counts of committing an indecent act against a child; two counts of sodomy; one count of possession and control of material depicting sex with minors; and two counts of unlawful sexual intercourse. Court records listed one of two counts charging sexual intercourse as a misdemeanor.

Police did not release the arrest information to the public immediately after the arrest “strictly to protect the identities of those involved,” Anderson said. Police released a statement about the arrests on Tuesday.

Sainz remained in custody Tuesday at the West County Detention Facility in lieu of $1.4 million bail.

According to Anderson, department detectives interviewed both victims at the scene and arrested Sainz there. Anderson said police, with the help of the Contra Costa County Internet Crimes Against Children task force, also seized several electronic devices from Sainz’s home.

According to police, Sainz and the two victims made their first contact via the Internet.