Oceanside man arrested for suspected lewd acts with minors while in Joshua Tree; more victims sought

A man from Oceanside, California was arrested for investigation into lewd acts with a minor, child endangerment, false imprisonment and providing controlled substances to minors.

According to a press release from the Morongo Basin Sheriff’s Station, deputies were called out to the 61000 block of Twentynine Palms Highway in Joshua Tree on September 14, 2025 to respond to a report of “lewd acts committed against a minor.”

Deputies say that the preliminary investigation determined that on the previous day (Saturday, September 13, 2025) three 15-year-old female juveniles were solicited by the suspect. The suspect is said to have provided illegal drugs and alcohol to the juveniles. While the victims were impaired and unable to care for themselves, the suspect allegedly committed lewd acts against them.

The Sheriff’s Department says that they used “advanced investigative techniques” and public records to identify the suspect as 43 year-old Ryan Granger, who was positively identified as the suspect by Detective D. Rodriguez. Investigators obtained an arrest warrant for Granger and located and arrested him in Oceanside, California on Wednesday, December 10, 2025, with the assistance of the Oceanside Police Department.

Granger is currently being held at West Valley Detention Center on $500,000 bail.

Ryan Granger, 43, was arrested and booked on Lewd or Lascivious Acts with a Minor, Child Endangerment, False Imprisonment and Furnishing a Controlled Substance to a Minor.  

This investigation remains ongoing. Detectives believe there could be more victims, anyone with information related to this incident, or who may have had contact with the suspect under similar circumstances is urged to contact the Morongo Basin Sheriff’s Station at (760) 366-4175.

Anonymous tips may be provided through the We-Tip Hotline at 1-800-78-CRIME (27463) or at www.wetip.com.