Stateline man accused of unlawful contact with minors

A Stateline man has been arrested by Reno police officers on charges of unlawful contact with a minor.

Jose Manuel Rosas-Rojas, 58, was taken into custody Oct. 22.

Jose Manuel Rosas-Rojas

Officers had been looking for a man who had been riding a bicycle in south Reno near Damonte Ranch and approached young girls. The first case was reported in January. Two composite sketches had similar characteristics as described by the 8- and 15-year-old victims. On Sept. 10 another report was filed with the Reno Police Department that had similar circumstances as the previous cases, and with the suspect matching the composite sketches.

On Sept. 16, detectives with the regional sex offender unit were checking the areas where the incidents occurred and contacted a Hispanic man who looked like the subject depicted in the composite sketches. The subject was identified as Rosas-Rojas.

Since contacting Rosas-Rojas, detectives have re-interviewed the four victims from the three reported cases involving young girls. Officers said Rosas-Rojas was positively identified as the suspect in the Sept. 10 case, and as a possible suspect in the first two cases.

Officers are asking parents to speak with their children about any suspicious encounters with anyone matching Rosas-Rojas and report it to the Reno Police Department at 775.657.4601 or Secret Witness at 775.322.4900.

— Lake Tahoe News staff report