A Delhi man is under arrest on accusations that he molested his biological daughter for five years and threatened to rape her, according to the Merced County Sheriff’s Department.

The suspect, Ilidio Geraldes, 33, was taken into custody on Wednesday after his 11-year-old daughter told authorities he had been molesting her since she was 6 years old.

The girl told investigators that Geraldes had recently taken her to a canal bank in Stanislaus County, where he handcuffed her hands above her head to the seat belt and told her he was going to rape her.

According to the girl’s statement, Geraldes said if she ever told anyone, he would “get” her after he got out of jail.

“Thankfully on that incident he did not carry out his threats of raping her but (he) still initiated inappropriate contact,” said sheriff spokesman Deputy Tom MacKenzie.

Geraldes was arrested shortly after 2 p.m. Wednesday when detectives from the Merced County Sheriff’s Department served a search warrant at his house in the 16000 block of Mahogany Avenue in Delhi. Geraldes was booked on molestation charges and remains in the Merced County Jail in lieu of a $520,000 bail.

During the search of his residence, detectives discovered inappropriate pictures of Geraldes’ other 4-year-old daughter, but nothing in of itself illegal, MacKenzie said.

Geraldes lives with his mother, and with his two daughters — the 4-year-old and a 10-month-old baby. Their mother and he are still in a relationship, but she is living in Turlock with family while they look for a house together, MacKenzie said.

MacKenzie said the girl’s mother has not had a relationship with Geraldes since her birth, but Geraldes still has visitation rights.
“All the kids have been left with their respective family members and are safe,” MacKenzie said.

The investigation is ongoing and appropriate social services for the girl and her family members have been offered.
To contact Sabra Stafford, e-mail sstafford@turlockjournal.com or call 634-9141 ext. 2002.