Father and son arrested on suspicion of lewd acts against children in Santa Barbara County
A father and son in Santa Barbara County were arrested this week on suspicion of committing lewd acts against a child, authorities said Wednesday.
Mark Pearse, 64, and his son Allen Pearse, 34, who are both residents of Santa Maria, were taken into custody Tuesday following an investigation that first began in January 2024, according to the Santa Barbara County Sheriff's Office. Allen Pearse has also been arrested in connection with allegations of rapes committed against three other female victims.
Authorities said deputies received a report from a woman who said she was abused as a child, although sheriff's officials did not say which of the two men were suspected in that alleged crime. That started the investigation in January and authorities said the alleged crimes began around 2009, occurring at the Los Pinos Apartments in Orcutt, a complex located near Winter Road and Orcutt Road.
A year later, in January 2025, investigators identified another person who reported Allen Pearse had raped her, according to sheriff's officials. Then, last month, authorities said two more people reported to investigators that Allen had raped each of them.
They were arrested at their Santa Maria home Tuesday before being booked into the Northern Branch Jail near Santa Maria. Authorities said they are both being held without bail.
Mark Pearse is being held on suspicion of felony crimes related to lewd and lascivious acts with a minor under 14. His son, Allen, is being held on suspicion of felony crimes including lewd and lascivious acts with a minor under 14, rape of an unconscious person, sodomy of an unconscious person and digital penetration of an unconscious person, according to sheriff's officials.
Investigators believe there could be other victims out there, specifically at the Los Pinos Apartments in Orcutt or the Boone Street area in Santa Maria. Anyone with information is urged to contact Santa Barbara County sheriff's officials. Detective Brownlee can be reached at 805-681-4150 while anonymous tips can be submitted at sbsheriff.org/home/anonymous-tip/ or at 805-681-4171.
Authorities said survivors of sexual abuse can also reach the Victim-Witness Assistance Program at 805-568-2400 or 855-840-3232.
