Man Accused of Molesting 16 Children
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SANTA ROSA, Calif. — A man has been arrested for investigation of sexually molesting 16 developmentally disabled children through a respite care program that he volunteered for, police said Saturday.
Richard Charles Whittington, 37, of Rohnert Park was booked at Sonoma County Jail after Municipal Judge Cerena Wong issued a $1-million warrant for his arrest on 23 felony counts of child molestation, police spokesman Paul Livramento said.
The alleged victims ranged in age from 1 to 12, he said.
The name of the non-profit respite care program where Whittington volunteered was not released. Officials said he served as a baby sitter and went into the homes of developmentally disabled children to care for them.
Whittington’s arrest culminated a nine-month investigation that involved police in Santa Rosa, Petaluma, Rohnert Park, Sonoma County sheriff’s deputies, the district attorney’s office and experts in child molestation, Livramento said.
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