Yucca Valley man arrested for suspected sexual assaults; Sheriff seeking additional victims
A Yucca Valley man has been arrested for suspected sexual assault of two teenagers, and the Morongo Basin Sheriff’s Station have released a press release with a photo of the suspect Mark L. Wilkes, 65, as well as the trucks he could have possibly driven while committing additional crimes.
On Tuesday, November 25, 2025, Morongo Basin Sheriff’s deputies responded to a call about possible sexual assault in the 56000 block of Twentynine Palms Highway in Yucca Valley. The 18 year-old victim told deputies that he was walking behind a local business when he was approached by Wilkes who was driving a black truck. The victim told deputies that after a brief verbal exchange, they were sexually assaulted by Wilkes.
In a separate incident on December 10, 2025, deputies responded to the 7500 block of Kickapoo Trail where a 16-year-old victim reported he was inside a nearby business when he was approached by a white male. The suspect initiated a sexually explicit and inappropriate conversation with the 16-year-old victim.
An investigation by the Sheriff’s department linked the suspect with both incidents. Detectives obtained an arrest warrant for Mark L. Wilkes, a 65 year-old resident of Yucca Valley. They also obtained a search warrant for his residence.
On December 11, 2025, deputies located and arrested Wilkes without incident, according to their press release. During the search of Wilkes’ residence, detectives located additional evidence but the press release did not elaborate on the nature of the evidence found.
Mark L. Wilkes was booked into the West Valley Detention Center for suspected Sexual Battery and his bail is set at $250,000.
The Sheriff’s station says they used the FLOCK camera system to track and identify the suspect’s trucks, and they believe that Wilkes may have assaulted additional victims in the Morongo Basin and Coachella Valley.
Any additional victims are urged to contact the Morongo Basin Sheriff’s Station to report the crime. Persons with information related to this investigation are asked to contact Detective Ables of the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department Morongo Basin Station at (760) 366-4175.
Anyone wishing to remain anonymous may contact We-Tip AT 1-888-78-CRIME.
