Update: Man sentenced for child abuse, rape, human trafficking
Update posted Jan. 7
–On Tuesday, Richard Brooks, 40, was sentenced to 61 years 8 months to life in prison for human trafficking of a minor by using force or fear and additional sex crimes that include rape, sodomy, pimping, and oral copulation against the same under age victim.
This sentencing means that Brooks will have to serve the full 61 years 8 months before being considered for probation, according to Assistant District Attorney Lee Cunningham.
This case was investigated by the San Luis Obispo County Sheriff’s Office and the prosecution team was led by Deputy District Attorney Greg Devitt.
Update posted Nov. 23
Richard Brooks
–On Friday, a San Luis Obispo County Jury found Richard Scott Brooks, 40, a transient from San Francisco, guilty of human trafficking of a minor by using force or fear and also found Brooks guilty of eighteen additional sex crimes that include rape, sodomy, pimping, and oral copulation against the same under age victim.
Deputy District Attorney Greg Devitt stated, “We are very pleased and thankful for the hard work the jury did in holding the defendant accountable for what he did to the minor victim. The jury obviously found the victim credible and these verdicts will hopefully bring her comfort as she heals from this very traumatic event.” Following the reading of the verdicts, District Attorney Dan Dow said, “Ultimately, justice was served today. These verdicts send a strong message that commercial sexual exploitation of minors will not go unpunished in our community.”
Human trafficking of a minor by using force or fear requires a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years to life in state prison. Brooks faces a maximum sentence of 63 years to life due to the additional eighteen counts he was convicted of. This case was investigated by the San Luis Obispo County Sheriff’s Office and the prosecution team was led by Deputy District Attorney Greg Devitt.
Brooks is held without bail and is scheduled to be sentenced on Dec. 29.
Update Sept. 3, 2014
Based on information discovered through the course of their investigation, detectives with the San Luis Obispo County Sheriff’s Office arrested a second suspect in connection with a recent case involving a child abuse victim.
On Tuesday, detectives arrested 38-year-old Richard Scott Brooks of San Francisco. He was booked into San Luis Obispo County Jail on three counts of rape by force or fear. On 8-28-14, Detectives arrested 38-year-old Oscar Higueros, Jr., of Cayucos on child abuse charges involving the same minor under the age of 18.
Higueros was booked into county jail, also on three counts of rape by force or fear. This case remains active and on-going.
The Sheriff’s Office is asking for the public’s help in determining if there are other victims associated with this case. If anyone feels like they have been victimized by these two men, they are asked to contact the Sheriff’s Office at (805) 781-4500.
Cayucos fire captain arrested for child abuse, rape
Oscar Higueros
Original report: On Aug. 25, the San Luis Obispo County Sheriff’s Office received a report of child abuse involving a minor under the age of 18. Deputies and detectives initiated an investigation into the incident which had occurred the month prior.
A suspect was identified as 38-year-old Oscar Higueros, Jr., of Cayucos. Higueros is a paid volunteer firefighter, a captain, with the Cayucos Fire Department. Last Thursday, a search warrant was served at his residence on Pacific Ave. in Cayucos where the alleged incident took place.
Higueros was arrested and booked into County Jail on three counts of rape by force or fear and sodomy involving a minor. Because the investigation is active and on-going, no further details are being released at this time, according to sheriff’s spokesman Tony Cippola.
Higueros is being held in jail in lieu of a $1 million bond.
This piece of shit came into my work at the bakery just to sit and try to talk to me while i worked and invite me to go for drives in his truck and go surf. Gee glad I have a good creep radar. My heart is with the victim. The good thing is knowing my town (cayucos) we won't let him feel welcome here when he gets out, except for his welcoming ass beat down of course.
Slo cty jail is TOO CUSHY for this piece of garbage
Judge not
Are you really saying we shouldn't judge Oscar for what he did? For ruining the life of a 15 year old girl? I'd say yes, he should be judged. And judgement he will get, from the law and from the other inmates who will give him the proper punishment.
She is 17, not 15 and Liz, you are talking factual when no information has been released nor has he been convicted. Innocent until proven guilty. This is America!
This is from Lisa Chavez, not David (my husband). Don't know why it logged me in as him.
David Chavez
She is 17, not 15 and Liz, you are talking factual when no information has been released nor has he been convicted. Innocent until proven guilty. This is America!
My Granddaughter lives in Cayucos, and if this happened to her, I'd go full-on ballistic. These guys are supposed to save lives, not ruin them. Thank God these freaks were caught, and let the judicial system have them. Otherwise, if they were left to the citizens, they'd probably be torn into pieces by all of us. That poor girl will need major therapy, and I hope she gets it.
Are you serious, Jamie? Yes, he will be judged by all of us, by God, and the nice folks in jail who will give him what he gave her. How pathetic that you would defend this monster.
David Chavez LOL
god is the only one that can judge, if your goingto bring god in it, read your bible.
Jamie, You obviously don't know Oscar. Oscar is one of the worst people I have known in my entire life, and there's a lot of other people here on Facebook who obviously agree with that opinion. Oscar deserves every bit of what he's going to get in jail.
Lisa, I know the victim so yes I am speaking factual. You seem quite proud to defend a rapist, you must be a real winner. Especially as a woman.
Liz, I'm not defending a rapist nor am I going to go low and start name calling. I'm just saying that the facts haven't been released so it's hard to make assumptions about the case. I'm sorry you know the victim and I'm sad for her. As a woman, I can relate as I was an under age rape victim. I will call him a rapist once a jury convicts him of it.
They should take all these child rapist an cut there dicks off. Send them to prison where they can be treated the same why they treat children
Wait a minute, what does it matter if she's 15 or 17? A minor is a minor.
This piece of shit came into my work at the bakery just to sit and try to talk to me while i worked and invite me to go for drives in his truck and go surf. Gee glad I have a good creep radar. My heart is with the victim. The good thing is knowing my town (cayucos) we won't let him feel welcome here when he gets out, except for his welcoming ass beat down of course.
Slo cty jail is TOO CUSHY for this piece of garbage
Judge not
Are you really saying we shouldn't judge Oscar for what he did? For ruining the life of a 15 year old girl? I'd say yes, he should be judged. And judgement he will get, from the law and from the other inmates who will give him the proper punishment.
She is 17, not 15 and Liz, you are talking factual when no information has been released nor has he been convicted. Innocent until proven guilty. This is America!
This is from Lisa Chavez, not David (my husband). Don't know why it logged me in as him.
David Chavez
She is 17, not 15 and Liz, you are talking factual when no information has been released nor has he been convicted. Innocent until proven guilty. This is America!
My Granddaughter lives in Cayucos, and if this happened to her, I'd go full-on ballistic. These guys are supposed to save lives, not ruin them. Thank God these freaks were caught, and let the judicial system have them. Otherwise, if they were left to the citizens, they'd probably be torn into pieces by all of us. That poor girl will need major therapy, and I hope she gets it.
Are you serious, Jamie? Yes, he will be judged by all of us, by God, and the nice folks in jail who will give him what he gave her. How pathetic that you would defend this monster.
David Chavez LOL
god is the only one that can judge, if your goingto bring god in it, read your bible.
Jamie, You obviously don't know Oscar. Oscar is one of the worst people I have known in my entire life, and there's a lot of other people here on Facebook who obviously agree with that opinion. Oscar deserves every bit of what he's going to get in jail.
Lisa, I know the victim so yes I am speaking factual. You seem quite proud to defend a rapist, you must be a real winner. Especially as a woman.
Liz, I'm not defending a rapist nor am I going to go low and start name calling. I'm just saying that the facts haven't been released so it's hard to make assumptions about the case. I'm sorry you know the victim and I'm sad for her. As a woman, I can relate as I was an under age rape victim. I will call him a rapist once a jury convicts him of it.
They should take all these child rapist an cut there dicks off. Send them to prison where they can be treated the same why they treat children
Wait a minute, what does it matter if she's 15 or 17? A minor is a minor.