Yucca Valley man under investigation for sex crimes and elder abuse arrested during Joshua Tree traffic stop

A man wanted on suspicion of multiple counts of rape was located and arrested during a traffic stop in Joshua Tree.

San Bernardino County Sheriff’s deputies received a report that an elderly victim in Yucca Valley was forcibly raped several times. Court records indicate that the several incidents are alleged to have occurred in May and July of this year. Deputies identified the suspect as Gabriel Castro, 50. The Sheriff’s Department declined to provide additional information about the sexual abuse so as not to identify the victim.

On Wednesday (September 2) at around 9:15 a.m., deputies conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle with a code violation near the intersection of Alta Loma Drive and Hillview Road in Joshua Tree. Deputies identified the driver as Castro, and took him into custody at the scene. He was also found to have an active warrant for public intoxication in Tulare County. 

Gabriel Castro was arrested on suspicion of multiple counts of rape by force or fear, burglary, and elder abuse. He is being held at the West Valley Detention Center on $500,000 bail.