The 53-year-old operator of a Riverside child day care facility was arrested Friday for allegedly molesting two children, though police suspect there may be other victims who have yet to be found.
Ladislao Diaz Cuevas was booked into the Robert Presley Detention Center on suspicion of lewd acts on a minor under 14 years old and forced sexual penetration of a child.
Cuevas is being held in lieu of $500,000 bail.
According to Riverside Police Department Officer Ryan Railsback, detectives from the department’s Sexual Assault-Child Abuse Unit received information in January indicating that the suspect allegedly had inappropriate contact with a girl about three years ago.
During the ensuing investigation, “a second victim came forward to report similar allegations that occurred in December 2022,” Railsback said.
Cuevas operates Little Steps Family Daycare in the 11000 block of Oriole Drive, near La Sierra Avenue, Railsback said.
The specific circumstances behind the alleged assaults on the two children were not disclosed, and background information on Cuevas was unavailable.
Detective Jolynn Turner said she believes other minors may have been molested by the suspect.
Anyone with information on the case was urged to call her at 951-826-8716 or email her at jturner@riversideca.gov.