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Sheriff's Investigators Capture Suspect for Child Molest/Child Stealing
By Ventura County Sheriff Department — Wednesday, December 24th, 2014
 Ventura County Sheriff's Department Denisse Romero was arrested after being found hiding in a closet in her family residence, located in the 1900 Block of Ginger Street, Oxnard, after an investigation that spanned several states and lead into Mexico, where the victim had previously been rescued. Denisse Romero was employed as a staff member at the Camarillo Children’s Learning Center, a group home, in August, 2014. The juvenile victim was a resident of the home. Romero began a romantic relationship with the victim, which led to the victim running away from the home, and Romero quitting the same day. Evidence established the pair left the State of California and ended up in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, where local law enforcement authorities, acting at the direction of VCSO investigators, nearly captured the pair. Romero and the victim were located in Texas, where the victim was recovered by the San Antonio Police Department. Evidence suggested Romero fled to Mexico after eluding authorities. The juvenile victim was returned to another group home in late August, where she ran away the following day. Evidence suggested the juvenile eventually arrived in Mexico, where she and Denisse Romero were reunited. Romero drove the juvenile around Mexico, where they eventually moved in to an apartment together in Ensenada. VCSO investigators developed leads that established the location of the pair. VCSO members contacted agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and requested assistance. FBI investigators worked with members of the Mexican Government. Mexican authorities located Romero and the juvenile at their apartment and took the juvenile into protective custody. Romero was not taken into custody because no formal extradition agreement was in place. A case against Denisse Romero was presented to the Ventura County District Attorney’s Office, and a $250,000 warrant was issued for her arrest for felony violations of 278 PC (Child Stealing) and two additional felony charges related to sexual assault of a minor. On 12/22/2014, VCSO investigators received information that Denisse Romero was back in the United States, living with family members in Oxnard. Detectives with the Sheriff’s Major Crimes Bureau, along with a patrol deputy, drove to the residence, where Denisse Romero failed to come out of the home. She was found hiding inside a closet in the home. She was arrested and booked at the Ventura County Jail for her charges. Nature of Incident: Capture of Child Stealing / Child Molest Suspect Ventura County Crime Stoppers will pay up to $1,000 reward for information, which leads to the arrest and criminal complaint against the person(s) responsible for this crime. The caller may remain anonymous. The call is not recorded. Call Crime Stoppers at 800-222-TIPS (8477). |
