3 brothers arrested on several child molestation charges

Oct. 09--STOCKTON -- Three men believed to be brothers were arrested last week on multiple felony child molestation charges.

The men -- Pedro Castro, 39; Bonifacio Morales Castro, 37; and Agustin Castro Morales, 30 -- were booked into San Joaquin County Jail in French Camp late Thursday on suspicion of lewd or lascivious acts with a child younger than 14 years old and continuous sexual abuse of a child, according to jail records.

Continuous sexual abuse of a minor is defined as engaging in three or more acts of substantial sexual conduct with a child younger than 14 at the time of the offense, by a person who either resides in the same house with the minor child or has recurring access to the child, according to state law.

Bonifacio and Pedro Castro also have been charged with suspicion of using a foreign object to sexually penetrate a child younger than 14. Bonifacio Castro faces the additional charge of suspicion of a lewd or lascivious act with a child who is 14 or 15 while being more than 10 years older than the victim.

Bail of more than $1 million has been set for all three defendants: Bonifacio Castro, $4.5 million; Pedro Castro, $2 millioin; and Agustin Castro Morales, $1.5 million.

A hearing has been scheduled for 1:30 p.m. Tuesday in San Joaquin County Superior Court for all three defendants. No further information was available due to Monday's public holiday.

Contact reporter Joe Goldeen at (209) 546-8278 or jgoldeen@recordnet.com. Follow him at recordnet.com/goldeenblog and on Twitter @JoeGoldeen.

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