Watsonville police bust three alleged sex offenders in 10 days

WATSONVILLE >> In a string of unrelated crimes, Watsonville police investigators have arrested three alleged child sex offenders in a 10-day period.

On Thursday, Watsonville police arrested Daniel Alanis, 39, of San Martin, on suspicion of lewd and lascivious acts against a child under 14. On Friday, Alanis remained held in Santa Cruz County Jail in lieu of $50,000 bail, ahead of a scheduled Dec. 8 court date, though his alleged crime was listed as “cleared.” However, Santa Cruz County Superior Court records show an active case against Alanis, including eight felony sex crime charges filed Friday by the Santa Cruz County District Attorney’s Office.

Police earlier arrested Armando Venegas, 26, of Santa Cruz, also on suspicion of lewd and lascivious acts against a child under 14 for an incident dating back to Jan. 1, 2020. Investigators served an arrest warrant on Venegas on Wednesday in Capitola. He was no longer listed as an inmate in the Santa Cruz County Jail logs Friday, but is facing five related felony charges filed by the Santa Cruz County District Attorney’s Office.

Registered sex offender Arthur Decaney, 58, of Watsonville, remained held without bail Friday in Santa Cruz County Jail after his Nov. 23 booking. Officers arrested Decaney for allegedly exposing himself to a teenage girl Nov. 18, an alleged act committed while Decaney was out of jail on a pending Sept. 22 sexual battery case.

No details were provided about the specifics of each case, but Watsonville police spokesperson Michelle Pulido said investigators had not tied the cases together, other than their similar crime profile occurring within the city of Watsonville in a short time span.

The Watsonville Police Department invites crime victims to contact them at 831-471-1151.