Denair man charged with sexually abusing two children, held on $1.1 million bail
A Denair man has been charged with sexually abusing two children and remains in custody on $1.1 million bail, following an investigation launched by Modesto police earlier this month.
According to Modesto Police Department spokesperson Sharon Bear, officers began investigating Nick Robles, 38, on July 2 after patrol units responded to reports of lewd acts with a minor. The case was turned over to the department’s Special Victims Unit, which led to Robles’ arrest on multiple felony charges involving children under the age of 14.
Robles was arraigned Tuesday in Stanislaus County Superior Court, where he pleaded not guilty to five felony charges: two counts of continuous sexual abuse of a child, one count of possessing child sexual abuse material, and one count of sending harmful matter to a minor.
The criminal complaint, filed by the Stanislaus County District Attorney’s Office, alleges Robles engaged in repeated acts of lewd and lascivious conduct with both children over a period of months. He is also accused of sending explicit electronic material to one of the victims and possessing sexually explicit images involving that child.
Prosecutors have added enhancements, including allegations that Robles held a position of trust and that the case involves multiple victims. He is ineligible for sentencing in county jail and, if convicted, could face life in prison.
A second defendant, 32-year-old Erin Patricia Bechly, is also charged in the case. She faces one felony count of child endangerment for allegedly allowing one of the children to suffer physical and emotional harm while in her care. She is currently out on bail.
Robles is scheduled to return to court on July 14 for an early case management conference.
