A Merced man was taken into custody by the Turlock Police Department on allegations he sexually abused children. Investigators suspect there could possibly be more victims who have yet to come forward.

The suspect, Jeffrey Eastman, 36, was taken into custody on Monday at the Merced Police Department by Turlock Police detectives. The investigators had obtained an arrest warrant for Eastman charging him with five felony counts of sexual abuse. The charges were for two counts of committing lewd or lascivious acts with a child under 14, continuous sexual abuse of a child under 14, and two counts of oral copulation with a child 10 or younger.

Eastman gained access to the children through his friendship with the family, according to the Turlock Police Department. The abuse reportedly happened between 2016 and 2017, but wasn’t reported until 2018, said Turlock Police spokesman Sgt. Russ Holeman.

One of the victim’s confided in a friend about the abuse and that person brought it to the attention of law enforcement.

Eastman was convicted in 2005 of lewd or lascivious acts with a child under 14 and was sentenced to prison for 10 years. He was released in 2012.

The suspect is being held at the Stanislaus County Jail on a $500,000 bail.

There may be other victims out there, so the police department is asking that parents of children who may have had contact with Eastman speak with their children and/or contact Detective Tim Redd at 668-5550 est. 6625.