The Santa Clarita Valley Fourth of July weekend crime roundup included the arrest of a man accused of contacting a minor for the purpose of committing a sexual offense and a woman arrested on theft-related charges, according to sheriff’s arrest records.

Forty-one-year-old Pedro Escobedo Ortiz was arrested on suspicion of violating California Penal Code Section 288.3(a), contact or communication with a minor with the intent to commit a specified sexual offense. 

The law makes it a crime to contact, communicate with or attempt to contact a minor with the intent to commit serious felony offenses, including lewd acts, rape or kidnapping.

Also among the notable arrests was 33-year-old Raeanne DeLeon, who was arrested on suspicion of shoplifting, petty theft and possession of burglary tools or theft-related devices.

In total, deputies made 36 arrests over the holiday weekend, three more than the previous reporting period. Of those arrests, 25 were for misdemeanor offenses, 10 were felonies and one was classified as “other,” a designation commonly used for offenses such as parole violations.

Driving under the influence accounted for the largest number of arrests, with nine DUI-related bookings during the weekend. Deputies also made four domestic violence arrests, three arrests for possession of a controlled substance with two or more prior convictions, two reckless driving arrests, one arrest for possession of controlled substances and two arrests for possession of drugs or drug paraphernalia while in jail or prison.

Additional arrests included burglary, assault likely to produce great bodily injury, evading a peace officer with disregard for public safety, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, driving with a suspended or revoked license due to drugs or alcohol, refusing to leave private property upon the owner’s request, indecent exposure, shoplifting, petty theft and a parole violation.

One arrest involved an 18-year-old Oakland man who was booked for driving with a blood-alcohol concentration of 0.01% or greater while under the age of 21.

Of the 36 people arrested, 22 were not Santa Clarita Valley residents, while 11 were from elsewhere outside the local area.

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