On Wednesday, the Idaho County Sheriff’s Office received information from the Stanislaus County Sheriff’s Office notifying them about a possible juvenile runaway in their jurisdiction.
Monica Ascencio, 16, of Turlock, had been reported as a runaway back in August 2023. At the time, SCSO detectives believed that she was with Cristian Ceja, 27, of Turlock.
Recently, Ascencio had contacted her family and was wanting to return home. SCSO detectives pinged Ascencio’s phone and discovered that she was in Kamiah, Idaho.
ICSO deputies responded to the address and located both Ascencio and Ceja.
Ceja had a $500,000 felony warrant out of Stanislaus County for oral copulation with a minor, communicating with a minor to commit a sex offense, and sending harmful material to seduce a minor.
Ascencio was taken into protective custody, while Ceja was arrested.
Ceja was booked into the Idaho County Jail on his warrant.
Today, he was extradited to California and booked into the Stanislaus County Public Safety Center.
Ceja is also facing misdemeanor charges out of Idaho.
