Prison guard targeted kids for sex as they walked to school in Fresno, police say
A correctional officer who works in Fresno County was arrested this week by Fresno police after allegedly committing multiple sex crimes on minors, according to police.
Santiago Flores, 30, was arrested Tuesday in Mendota after police accused him of targeting girls walking to school in late 2025, police said.
A spokesperson for the Federal Correctional Institution in Mendota confirmed Flores is a correctional officer at the prison, but could not immediately provide any other details on his employment, including how long he has worked there.
Investigators said Flores drove his car up to a juvenile in November, asking her to get into his car as she was walking to school near Cedar Avenue and Cesar Chavez Boulevard in southeast Fresno, near Roosevelt High School. The minor declined.
Police said while they conducted an investigation into that incident, they discovered a similar incident from September in which they said a girl was assaulted by Flores.
He approached a girl in Fresno near Cedar and Church avenues during the September incident, soliciting her for sex acts, police said. After several attempts, the victim got into the car and was victimized by Flores, police said. He then drove the victim to school, according to police.
Flores was no longer in custody on Thursday, according to Fresno County jail records. Police said he faces multiple sexual assault related charges.
Police asked anyone with additional information regarding the investigation or about additional victims, to contact Detective Gianna Armanino at 559-621-2491. Anyone calling with information can remain anonymous with Crime Stoppers at 559-498-7867.
This story was originally published January 15, 2026 at 12:45 PM.
