Correctional officer, former Visalia youth pastor accused of molesting multiple children

Sheyanne N Romero | Visalia Times-Delta

Two law enforcement officers are accused of abusing multiple children nearly two decades ago.

Tulare detectives called the months-long investigation a "substantial case." Combined, the suspects face 20 counts of child molestation, police said.

The investigation was sparked when an adult victim walked into the Tulare Police Department lobby earlier this year. The victim's gender and age weren't released.

The victim told officers they were molested on multiple occasions by a youth pastor at Valley Bible Church in Visalia. The victim was between 8 and 9 years old when the abuse took place, police said.

Valley Bible Church is no longer operational, according to police.

The crimes are alleged to have taken place in the mid to late 1990s, Sgt. Eddie Hinojosa said.

Following the report, detectives launched an investigation and discovered there were other victims linked to the same suspect — Steven Arey, 48.

Arey is employed as a correctional officer with the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR).

It's unknown how long Arey has been employed as a correctional officer, but there are records from Transparent California dating back to 2011.

During their investigation, detectives learned Arey may not have acted alone.

An additional suspect from the same church was accused of similar crimes and was "an associate" of Arey’s, Hinojosa said.

Kevin Sandoval, 56, is a retired CDCR sergeant and was living in Tulare when the crimes allegedly took place.

After months of interviews and gathering evidence, detectives presented their case to a judge who ordered arrest warrants for both suspects.

On Nov. 21, detectives traveled to Rancho Cordova and arrested Sandoval at his home. He was taken back to Tulare Police Department for questioning.

He was later booked into Bob Wiley Detention Facility on multiple allegations of child molestation.

His bail is set at $100,000.

On Nov. 22, Arey was arrested at work at the Francisquito Conservation Camp in Santa Clarita.

CDCR officials confirmed Arey has been placed on "administrative time off."

Arey was also taken back to the department for questioning and later booked into Tulare County Main Jail on allegations of child molestation.

His bail is set at $250,000.

"As of today, the Tulare County District Attorney’s office has filed five counts of child molest on Sandoval and 15 counts on Arey," Hinojosa said. "There is a possibility that there may be more victims of these crimes."

If anyone has any information regarding this investigation detectives urge the public to call Detective Matt Muller at 685-2300 extension 2157.

In a recent investigation by roughly 30 newsrooms across California, reporters found that more than 80 law enforcement officers working today are convicted criminals, with rap sheets that include everything from animal cruelty to manslaughter.

They drove drunk, cheated on timecards, brutalized family members, even killed others with their recklessness on the road. But thanks to some of the weakest laws in the country for punishing police misconduct, California has done nothing to stop these officers from enforcing the law.

Sheyanne Romero covers Tulare County public safety, local government and business for the Visalia Times-Delta and Tulare Advance-Register newspapers. Follow her on Twitter @sheyanne_VTD. Get alerts and keep up on all things Tulare County for as little as $1 a month. Subscribe today.