Sheriff’s investigators on Monday arrested an Arroyo Grande realtor on suspicion of child molestation.
Lawrence “Lenny” Lucien Jones, 63, was taken into custody on April 13, according to a Sheriff’s Department news release, following an investigation into an alleged child molestation that reportedly took place March 13.
On March 24, the Sheriff’s Office received information that two female juveniles under the age of 14 had been sexually molested while attending a birthday party at the suspect’s home.
Jones, who was named Arroyo Grande’s Citizen of the Year in 2014 by the local chamber of commerce, was arrested without incident at his home in the 500 block of Cameo Way.
Jones was booked at County Jail on suspicion of kidnapping, penetration with a foreign object and child molestation. His bail has been set at $500,000.
Additional charges are pending. This investigation is ongoing. At this time, investigators are asking for the public’s help in identifying any other potential victims in this case by calling the Sheriff’s Office at 781-4500.
Jones moved to Arroyo Grande with his family as an infant and went on to graduate from Arroyo Grande High School and Cuesta College before earning a bachelor’s of science degree in marine geology from San Jose State University. He started his real estate career in 1983 and opened his own office in 1996.