Former Mayor of Sebastopol, and cannabis businessman, Robert Jacob was arrested Saturday morning on suspicion of sexual assault.
Sebastopol Police Chief Kevin Kilgore told KCBS Radio that Jacob was arrested for allegedly having sex with a child aged 14 or 15, as well as multiple charges of sex trafficking.
“We do know that there were sexual assaults that occurred between December 2019 and March 2021, and those occurred in the city of Sebastopol,” Kilgore said, adding those incidents were first reported to police on March 20, 2021, at which point the investigation into Jacob began.
Jacob was booked in Sonoma County jail and is being held without bail on suspicion of felonies and one misdemeanor. In addition to the sex trafficking and lewd act charges, he is suspected of showing or sending harmful material to seduce a minor and arranging a meeting with a minor for the purpose of sex.
A press release to KCBS Radio listed the suspected crimes, and said he faces one count each of penal codes 266j; 288(c)(1); 288.2(a)(1); 288.2(a)(2); 288.4(a)(1); and 289(i).
Kilgore said the investigation is ongoing and has asked anyone with information about the case to please contact Sebastopol Police.