Man arrested in Indio for investigation into sexual abuse of a minor in Yucca Valley

Morongo Basin deputies arrested a man in Indio for investigation into the ongoing sexual abuse of a minor.

On Tuesday (April 28) at around 10:00 a.m., San Bernardino County Sheriff’s deputies assigned to Yucca Valley acted on an arrest warrant at a home in the 46800 block of Jackson Street in Indio.

Jason Mendoza, Jr, 23, was taken into custody. Mendoza was arrested on suspicion of numerous charges related to the sexual abuse of a minor victim or victims in Yucca Valley.

Jason Mendoza, Jr. was arraigned in San Bernardino County Superior Court on Thursday (April 30). Felony charges including rape by force, rape and preventing a witness of reporting abuse ared dated January, 2021, December, 2024, and May, 2025.

The Sheriff’s Department did not specify whether these were separate incidents of abuse are related to a single or multiple victims, and indicated that this was an ongoing investigation and declined to provide further details.

Mendoza entered a plea of “not guilty” to five felony charges related to the sexual abuse of a minor.