Former caretaker arrested for alleged rape

By ERIC LINDBERG — August 1, 2009

Authorities have arrested a Goleta man on suspicion of raping a special needs client while working as a caretaker at an assisted-living facility on the South Coast.

Sheriff’s detectives took Christopher Robin Coates, 35, into custody on Wednesday following an investigation into allegations that he had sexually assaulted a 36-year-old woman.

“At the time of his arrest, Coates was no longer employed at the facility,” Sheriff’s Spokesman Drew Sugars said in a news release.

Citing the nature of the crime, sheriff’s officials did not release the name of the victim or the assisted-living facility where she lives, although they confirmed it is located in South Santa Barbara County.

Detectives began looking into the allegations on June 18 after the victim allegedly told an employee at the facility that a caretaker had sexually assaulted her five days earlier, on June 13. Sugars said the investigation led authorities to arrest the suspect at his Goleta home.

“Coates was booked into the Santa Barbara County Jail on several sexual assault charges, including lascivious acts with a dependent adult and dissuading a witness,” according to the news release. “His bail is set at $100,000.”

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I've seen this guy before.... : 8/1/2009

Could he be a grad of one of the homeless programs? Or is he already a sex offender on MegansLaw.gov?

yO hO

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