Sexual Assault of a Juvenile 

August 8, 2026 – Tuolumne County Sheriff’s Office officials report that on July 24, 2026, at approximately 2:25 a.m., the Tuolumne County Sheriff’s Office received a report involving a 13-year-old juvenile who had reportedly been followed home by an adult male and was believed to be in danger. To protect the juvenile’s identity and privacy, the juvenile will be referred to as “Confidential Victim.”

The reporting party told dispatchers that Confidential Victim had sent text messages stating an adult male had followed the juvenile home and entered the residence but was currently outside the residence and making threats toward the victim’s family.

Deputies responded to the area and located 33-year-old Andrew James Lee near the victim’s residence and detained him. During the subsequent investigation, Confidential Victim told deputies that Lee had initially been encountered at a convenience store and later followed the juvenile to the residence. Confidential Victim also disclosed that Lee had committed a sexual assault against the juvenile.

Detectives were called to the scene and took over the investigation. Lee was transported to the Tuolumne County Sheriff’s Office Investigations Office for further questioning.

Following the investigation, Lee was arrested and subsequently booked into the Dambacher Detention Center on the following charges:

- 261 (a)(2) PC - Rape by force or fear

- 288 (a) PC - Lewd or lascivious acts of child under the age of 14

- 289 (c) PC - Sexual penetration of a minor

- 459 PC - Burglary

The investigation remains active and ongoing. We will be releasing no further information at this time.

Source & photo: Tuolumne County Sheriff’s Office