Ventura County Sheriff's Department

Fernando Cervantes, 44 of Fillmore, was arrested on suspicion of molesting five female relatives under the age of 14, allegedly between 1997 and 2008. Five counts were brought against Cervantes on July 16th in Ventura County Superior Court. A hearing date has been set for August 28, 2009.

Cervantes’ sons Francisco Cervantes, 22, and Oscar Cervantes, 21, both of Fillmore, were also arrested and charged with molesting the female relatives. Francisco is charge with molesting one female relative, allegedly from 2002 to 2008. And Oscar allegedly molested three female relatives from 2002 to 2007. Most of the alleged molestations took placer in the defendants’ home and some took place when the men would visit the victims during the holidays in the Lancaster-Palmdale area.

Fernando Cervantes is possibly facing a sentence of 75 years to life in prison if convicted of the crimes. Some of the victims were molested by all three defendants.