December 20, 2025 – Sacramento County Sheriff's Office officials report that earlier this year, a woman called the Sheriff’s Office to report that her 6-year-old daughter had been sexually assaulted by a family member, later identified as Melvin Rutherford. Additionally, the woman’s 9-year-old son and 11-year-old son had also been sexually assaulted recently by Rutherford.

The 6-year-old girl was later interviewed by Forensic Interview Specialists at the Sacramento Special Assault Forensic Evaluation (SAFE) Center and disclosed that Rutherford performed several acts of sexual abuse on her in his home. The girl disclosed the abuse to her mother several days later, and the mother confronted Rutherford about the allegations. Rutherford responded that he did not know what to say to her.

Both the 9-year-old and 11-year-old boys were also interviewed at the SAFE Center and described inappropriate acts by Rutherford. During these incidents, Rutherford also tried to give the boys marijuana; and when they refused, he forced it into one of their mouths.

Child Abuse Bureau Detectives led the investigation and obtained an arrest warrant for Rutherford for one count of Oral Copulation on a Victim Ten Years of Age or Younger and three counts of Lewd and Lascivious Acts with a Child Under 14. Detectives from the Major Crimes Bureau located and arrested Rutherford on December 16, 2025, and booked him at the Sacramento County Main Jail. Rutherford’s bail was set at $1,300,000.

Source & photo: Sacramento County Sheriff's Office