GRANGEVILLE, ID – A 27-year-old California man was arrested yesterday in Idaho County after he was allegedly found with a young female runaway. According to the Idaho County Sheriff’s Office, dispatchers received a call from a Stanislaus County Sheriff’s detective who advised them they had contact with a 16-year-old juvenile who was reported as a runaway last August.
Monica Ascensio reportedly left her Turlock, California home in the early morning hours of August 27th. The California Highway Patrol issued an Endangered Missing Advisory for the teen and informed the public that she was believed to have gone willingly with Cristian Ceja who had multiple warrants, including for sexual assault charges.
“The juvenile had contacted family and was wanting to return home. The Stanislaus County Sheriff’s Office pinged her phone and it showed she was in the Kamiah, Idaho area,” a press release states. “Idaho County Deputies responded to the location and located a male subject and the juvenile female in a trailer outside of a residence. The juvenile was taken into protective custody, and the adult male was arrested.”
Ceja was arrested on a felony warrant out of California for Contacting a Minor for Sexual Gratification, Contacting a Minor Using an Electronic Device for the Purpose of Sexual Gratification, and Oral Copulation of a Minor. He was also charged with misdemeanor Providing Shelter to a Runaway, misdemeanor Possession of Marijuana, and misdemeanor Possession of Paraphernalia.
Officials say additional charges may be pending out of both Idaho County and California.
