– By F. Scott Faulkner
SANTA MARIA, CA — January 30, 2026
Ernest James Lattimer, 79, of Santa Maria is accused of sexually abusing children for years
inside a home-based daycare operated by his spouse.
According to Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Department Public Information Officer Raquel Zick, “the crimes went undetected for
more than a decade.”
Investigators determined that the abuse occurred between 1995 and 2012 at an in-home child
care facility in Santa Maria, “where families entrusted their young children to the couple’s care.”
Lattimer allegedly took advantage of that access to repeatedly molest children, all of whom were
under the age of 10 at the time.
The case first came to light in 2019, when several survivors contacted law enforcement to report
sexual abuse they said occurred during their early childhood. Those reports launched a lengthy
investigation by the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office.
As detectives reviewed records and conducted interviews, they were able to identify multiple
survivors and establish what they described as a disturbing pattern of abuse spanning years.
“Detectives have identified several survivors, and we believe there may be additional victims
who have not yet come forward.” according to Zick. “We encourage anyone with information
related to this case to contact law enforcement.”
On Jan. 22, 2026, detectives served a search warrant and an arrest warrant at Lattimer’s current
residence in Santa Maria. He was taken into custody without incident and transported to the
Northern Branch Santa Barbara County Jail where he was booked on four felony counts of
committing sex acts with a minor under 10 years of age, three felony counts of oral copulation
with a child under 10, and 10 felony counts of lewd acts upon a child under 10 by force. He
remains in custody with his bail set at $1,000,000.
