Records: Traveling Santa Cruz County nurse pleads not guilty to allegedly sexually grooming teen girl
SALINAS, Calif. (KION-TV)- The man allegedly responsible for illegal sexual contact over a 9-month period with a Greenfield teen was in in a Salinas courtroom Friday.
Travis Harris, 39, pled not guilty to 9 felony counts connected to the rape of a now 16-year-old girl, per our reporter on the scene. His bail was set at $250,000, but he will be in court Friday, July 21 to see if he can have his bail lowered at the request of his private attorney.
The Office of the California Attorney General filed a request to revoke Harri's nursing license if released on bail. Deputy Attorney General Leslie E. Brast submitted the request and added that Harris holds an active California registered nurse license issued to him as of July 15, 2019.
Greenfield Police said the suspect has worked as a registered nurse in Santa Cruz County area hospitals, and more recently, as a registered nurse in Columbus, Ohio.
Brast in her request that over the course of nine months, Harris actively groomed and sexually exploited Jane Doe before she turned 16. The victim credibly described to Sally P. Archer Child Advocacy Center and Bates Child Abuse Clinic at Natividad Medical Center in Salinas of her ongoing sexual exploration at the hands of Harris.
The victim told the group, according to the request from the State Licensing Agency, that she was concerned about there being more victims due to the "defendant's disclosures to her concerning his sexual interest in other children and toddlers, including his ex-girlfriend's child."
Police gathered physical, video, and digital evidence and detailed their findings in a lengthy police report, said Brast.
Brast added the allegations are and are not limited to contacting a minor initially on Reddit or Snapchat. He allegedly started sexting the victim. Beginning in Sept. of 2022, he began sexually exploiting her in his apartment, her home, hotels/motels and in a car.
At one point, Brast says, he choked her until she nearly lost consciousness as well as other graphic sex acts including paddling her and leaving marks on her back.
Harris allegedly trained his victim to meet his sexual preferences. To that end, he mailed her packages including sex toys and clothing, alleged breast. For these alleged acts, the State Licensing Agency wants to revoke his nursing license if released from prison.
First, we are happy to report the victim in this case is getting the help and resources she needs to get through this ordeal, along with the love and support from her family. Our thoughts and prayers are with her and her family.
This should be a wake-up call for all parents to be involved in their children’s activities, especially when it comes to social media. The victim and suspect met on Reddit social media platform, which is used by people of all ages. The suspect was able to take advantage of the victim and establish control over her.
Parents need to know who their children are talking to, and they have every right to monitor their children’s activities.
Parents would not let a stranger into their house, but through social media platforms, strangers can enter any household and have direct contact with any person or child on social media.
Greenfield Police Chief Guillermo Mixer
DA: Traveling Santa Cruz County nurse charged with 9 felony counts after alleged rape of minor
GREENFIELD, Calif. (KION-TV)- A man allegedly responsible for illegal sexual contact with a Greenfield teen made his first court appearance Tuesday in a Salinas courtroom.
Travis Harris, 39, of Scotts Valley was arrested Friday by agents from Greenfield Police, South Monterey County Task Force, Homeland Security Investigations and the FBI. Greenfield Police arrested him on several charges for having an alleged inappropriate relationship with a 16-year-old.
The Monterey County District Attorney's Office filed a criminal complaint and charged Harris with 9 felony counts. He is charged with four counts of lewd acts on a defendant at least 10 years younger, contact with a minor for a sexual offense, harmful material sent to a minor, furnishing a minor with marijuana, and two counts of sexual intercourse with someone at least three years younger.
These incidents allegedly took place from September 1, 2022, to July 7, 2023, when the female victim was 15 years of age, said the district attorney's office. These incidents allegedly happened in Royal Oaks, Greenfield and Salinas.
His arraignment was pushed back until July 14 and his bail was set at $250,000. A judge also signed a restraining order forbidding Harris from having any contact with his alleged victim.
Police: Santa Cruz County registered nurse arrested for rape of teen girl, found with child porn and firearms
Greenfield Police said they arrested a man Friday and charged him with various crimes involving the rape of a minor.
On Thursday, a 16-year-old girl told Greenfield Police she had been involved in a sexual relationship with a 39-year-old man she met online. Police say the suspect has worked as a registered nurse in Santa Cruz County area hospitals, and more recently, as a registered nurse in Columbus, Ohio.
Travis Harris of Scotts Valley was identified by police as the suspect and was arrested in his home with help from the South Monterey County Task Force, the Soledad Police Department, the Silicon Valley Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, the Santa Cruz County Anti-Crime Task Force, the Scotts Valley Police Department, Homeland Security Investigations and the FBI.
Police found firearms and electronic devices belonging to Harris. He was booked into Monterey County Jail.
He faces charges of rape, assault with intent to commit rape, assault with a deadly weapon, digital penetration, oral copulation, sodomy, possession of child pornography, distribution of child pornography, creating/manufacturing child pornography, contacting a minor for sexual purposes, and possession of an unregistered firearm, said police.
"If you or someone you know has had inappropriate contact or communication with Harris, we ask that you report the incident to your local police department," said Greenfield Police.
