Arranging to Meet with a Minor for Lewd Purposes 

December 17, 2024 – San Luis Obispo County Sheriff’s Office officials report that on December 12, 2024, the San Luis Obispo County Counter Human Trafficking Task Force, which consists of Investigators from the Sheriff's Office and District Attorney's Office, conducted an operation aimed at intercepting child sex predators in the city of San Luis Obispo.

Three men were arrested after each had arranged to meet with a person who they believed to be under 15-years-old, for the purposes of engaging in a sexual encounter. Instead, the person the men contacted was an undercover Detective.

40-year-old Genaro Santana Avalos of Santa Maria, 42-year-old Ernesto Fernandez of Santa Maria, and 29-year Salvador Mendoza Pille of Oceano were arrested for arranging to meet with a minor for lewd purposes.

This operation was a collaborative effort with the assistance of the Santa Maria Police Department, San Luis Obispo Police Department and the San Luis Obispo County Probation Department.

Contact: Tony Cipolla

Phone: (805) 781-4547

Date and time of incident: 12-12-2024

Place of Occurrence: San Luis Obispo

Victim Information: N/A

Suspect Information: Genaro Santana Avalos, 40, Santa Maria Ernesto Fernandez, 42, Santa Maria Salvador Mendoza Pille, 29, Oceano

Source & photos: San Luis Obispo County Sheriff’s Office