The district attorney’s office filed charges Monday accusing
Hollister’s Michael Reyes of 16 felony counts in connection with
allegations he continually raped and assaulted a minor over an
eight-year span, according to court records.
The district attorney’s office filed charges Monday accusing Hollister’s Michael Reyes of 16 felony counts in connection with allegations he continually raped and assaulted a minor over an eight-year span, according to court records.
Reyes, 56, was arrested by the Hollister Police Department on Thursday. An adult had reported the allegations Wednesday. That same day, police investigators tried to make contact with Reyes, but he escaped, only to turn himself in Thursday.
Police noted in a press statement released Monday how Reyes is an admitted member of the Mongols biker gang and how he has served as a local chapter president. Investigators alleged he committed the acts in Hollister, Morgan Hill and Los Banos. Police declined to release the girl’s age, but confirmed she still is a minor.
Prosecutors on Monday filed the slew of charges and related special allegations – which could enhance a potential penalty for each conviction – for most of the accusations.
The suspected crimes started Jan. 1, 2002. Prosecutors allege on that day, Reyes committed continued sexual abuse of a child, sexual penetration with a sexual object and lewd or lascivious acts. Those charges included a total of four special allegations alleging use of force or “substantial sexual conduct,” according to court records.
On Jan. 1, 2005, charges allege Reyes committed rape by force or fear and lewd or lascivious acts – with a total of four special allegations.
On April 20, 2005, they allege he committed rape by force or fear and lewd or lascivious acts, with three special allegations for the latter allegation.
They suspect a couple of weeks later, Reyes again committed rape and lewd or lascivious acts, with three more special allegations. Six months after that, prosecutors allege the same two crimes occurred.
Prosecutors also included four felony charges accusing Reyes of seducing a child under 14, each of the times in 2005, while there were special allegations added for three of the suspected incidents, according to records.
Additionally, the district attorney charged Reyes alleging forcible acts of sexual penetration of a child for the suspected January 2002 incidents.
Reyes is scheduled for his next court appearance at 2 p.m. March 23 at the San Benito County Courthouse. He remains at the San Benito County Jail in lieu of bail, which a judge lowered from $1.1 million to $1 million.
