SANTA CRUZ — A Watsonville man accused of sexual crimes with underage deli staff was remanded Tuesday to accommodate arrest, pending a bail listening to.
The Santa Cruz County District Lawyer’s Workplace is searching for to place Carlos Gomez Velasco, launched on a $200,000 bail bond Friday, again behind bars as he awaits trial “because of the critical and violent nature of the sexual offenses charged.”
The 39-year-old man appeared in court docket for arraignment on an amended criticism together with 12 legal counts Tuesday, however had not but retained formal authorized counsel and was allowed to delay making a plea. Protection lawyer Geoffrey Rawlings appeared as an off-the-cuff “pal of the court docket” on Gomez Velasco’s behalf.
Gomez Velasco is accused of sexually assaulting three minors between December 2020 and April 2021 at his place of business, a franchise Erik’s DeliCafe in Aptos owned by his companion. Gomez Velasco and his long-time companion, additionally the mom of his youngster, had represented themselves to the Sentinel because the eatery’s co-owners on the time of the shop’s opening in 2018 and Assistant District Lawyer Kristal Salcido described him Tuesday as holding “a place of authority” on the cafe.
Santa Cruz County Superior Court docket Decide Nancy de la Peña stated she was ready to supply Gomez Velasco time to safe authorized counsel, however that the District Lawyer’s Workplace request for a bond/launch standing listening to required a extra fast response. De la Peña, nonetheless, rejected Salcido’s request that she instantly jail Gomez Velasco, saying his bail had already been doubled. He's scheduled to return to court docket Thursday morning.
Forsaking a gaggle of supporters seated within the courtroom, Gomez Velasco was cuffed and brought for pre-trial processing on the Santa Cruz County Jail. De la Peña ordered to not go away a residential property the place he could be staying, aside from medical and court docket appointments. Gomez Velasco’s extra phrases of launch included him having no in-person, written or cellphone contact with anybody youthful than age 18, no use of alcohol or non-prescribed managed substances.
The case in opposition to Gomez Velasco stays an “lively investigation” because the Sheriff’s Workplace is fielding continued calls from the general public, based on Salcido. Group members with data associated to the case are requested to contact Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Workplace detective Sgt. Zach West at 831-454-7645.