A Twentynine Palms man was arrested Wednesday, accused of rape of a minor and possession of narcotics, in an investigation that goes back several months. In September 2018, Sheriff’s Deputies received information that James Schutte, 28, of Twentynine Palms, had been responsible for numerous counts of rape of a minor.
During a lengthy investigation, detectives learned that Schutte had been in a relationship with a 14-year-old girl for one and a half years, during which deputies say Schutte had repeatedly raped and physically assaulted the victim. On Wednesday, May 9, deputies located Schutte at a residence in the 6300 block of Isleta Drive in Twentynine Palms. During their search, deputies discovered a large quantity of cocaine, packaged for sales, inside the home.
James Schutte was arrested for investigation of rape of a minor by force or fear, and for investigation of possession of narcotics for sales, and booked into the West Valley Detention Center with his bail set at $250,000. Schutte had been arrested–and then released on May 5–just four days prior, for investigation of misdemeanor DUI after crashing into multiple vehicles at a high school prom after-party in Landers.
