Special Victims Unit Arrests Alleged Child Molester 

August 29, 2024 – Stanislaus County Sheriff’s Office officials report that the Special Victims Unit have arrested 50-year-old Delhi resident Elias Orellana Ruiz for annoying or molesting a child.

On Monday, August 26, 2024, Ruiz is alleged to have been masturbating while driving by a Denair Junior High School student who was walking home. He was in a brown 2002 Chevy Tahoe SUV.

The child was not injured and ran away to alert an adult. School staff reached out to local enforcement to make a formal report with patrol deputies.

Detectives furthered their investigation by reviewing video surveillance and vehicle registration information. Ruiz matched the provided description and was the vehicle’s registered owner. He was also formally a registered sex offender as of three-years-ago.

Detectives arrested Ruiz in Riverbank driving the same car without incident. He was then booked into the PSC for felony annoying or molesting a child. He is being held in lieu of $175,000 bail. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

If anyone has a similar instance to report, involving the same car or suspect, they are urged to call 209-552-2468.

Source & photos: Stanislaus County Sheriff’s Office