SALINAS, Calif. - New information on the Salinas man accused of sexually abusing a girl four years ago. On Tuesday, Salinas Police arrested Rene Cruz's girlfriend, Nelida Gaytan, for helping him hide from police.
Cruz is accused of sexually abusing a girl at Gaytan's daycare at their Salinas home four years ago. Salinas Police said, at one point, Gaytan lied about her name, knowing Cruz, and even said, he wasn't the father of their three young children.
She also lied about where he was, when police tried to question and arrest him. Neighbors are shocked.
"For me she was a nice neighbor," says Consuelo Salcido. "We never had any problems. She was nice."
Salcido also said, besides being a good neighbor, Gaytan was a good mother.
"they like to play in the backyard," says Salcido. "They were happy every day."
Police think different and said Gaytan put her children in danger, when she ran off with Cruz last month. About a week and a half ago, he finally turned himself in after two weeks on the run.
Police said, they could have arrested him sooner, if Gaytan was honest with them. Salcido thinks Gaytan didn't have bad intentions.
"Maybe she protected him, they are a couple and she was scared," says Salcido.
Ironically, police arrested Gaytan there after a meeting Tuesday afternoon. Gaytan is being charged as an accessory after the fact and interfering with Salinas Police's investigation.
The couple's three children are safe with Child Protective Services.
