63-Year-Old Santa Maria Man Arrested in Child Sex Abuse Investigation

Jose Luis Diaz faces charges of ongoing sexual abuse and lewd acts with a child under 14.

Published on Feb. 25, 2026

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On Tuesday, Santa Maria police arrested 63-year-old Jose Luis Diaz, a Santa Maria resident, who had an outstanding warrant related to lewd acts with a child. Detectives determined Diaz had victimized more than one child and believe there may be additional victims who have not yet come forward.

Why it matters

Child sexual abuse cases are deeply disturbing and have long-lasting impacts on victims. This arrest highlights the importance of thorough investigations and encourages other potential victims to come forward to seek justice.

The details

Police say the arrest happened on Saturday, February 21 after patrol officers obtained an arrest warrant for Diaz as a result of an active investigation. Diaz was booked into the Santa Barbara County Jail on charges of ongoing sexual abuse of a child under 14 years of age, and lewd acts with a child under 14 years of age. Bail has been set at $350,000.

  • Diaz was arrested on Saturday, February 21, 2026.
  • Diaz was booked into jail on Tuesday, February 25, 2026.

The players

Jose Luis Diaz

A 63-year-old Santa Maria resident who was arrested on charges of ongoing sexual abuse of a child under 14 and lewd acts with a child under 14.

Santa Maria Police Department

The law enforcement agency that conducted the investigation and made the arrest of Jose Luis Diaz.

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What’s next

The judge will determine whether to grant bail for Jose Luis Diaz at a future court hearing.

The takeaway

This case highlights the importance of thorough investigations and encourages other potential victims to come forward to seek justice in cases of child sexual abuse, which can have devastating long-term impacts on survivors.