Santa Maria Child Sexual Abuse Case: Suspect Arrested after 35 Years
– By F. Scott Faulkner
SANTA MARIA, CA — February 25, 2026
A decades-spanning investigation into alleged sexual abuse has led to the arrest of Jose Luis Diaz, 63, or Santa Maria.
The criminal complaint filed by the Santa Barbara County District Attorney’s Office on February
24 indicates that Diaz is accused of 10 felony counts of “lewd and lascivious acts with a child”
that took place in 1988, 2003, and 2018 involving victims “under the age of 14.” The complaint reportedly includes special allegations of aggravating factors that overcome statute of limitations concerns, allowing the decades-old charges to proceed.
According to Santa Maria Police Department spokesman Lt. Andy Magallon, SMPD detectives
“determined that Diaz had victimized more than one child and believe there may be additional
victims who have not yet come forward,” Lt. Andy Magallon said, according to police.
Diaz was located on the morning of February 21 and was taken into custody “without
incident.” He was transported to Santa Barbara County Jail where he was booked on the
aforementioned felony charges.
Diaz was arraigned on February 24 in the Santa Maria Criminal Division of the Santa Barbara County Superior Court (Case No. 26CR01248). During the proceedings, Diaz entered a formal plea of not guilty to all 10 felony counts. The court has scheduled a preliminary hearing for March 3 at 8:30 a.m.
At this time, Diaz remains in custody with his bail set at $350,000.
Photo courtesy of Santa Maria Police Department
