MANTECA — A former Manteca man is being held on $500,000 bond after he was arrested Thursday, May 8 for molesting two children at a Manteca day care center.

Ramon Elizando, 41, was charged with engaging in “oral copulation or sexual penetration,” but not intercourse, with a child aged 10 or under, and a second count of committing lewd acts on a child.

There were two victims, police spokesman Rex Osborn said. Names of minors and sex crime victims are not made public.

Elizando’s wife ran a day care center at 930 Poplar Ave., which has since been closed down.

After a monthlong investigation, detectives arrested Elizando in Livermore, where he was working as a contract roofer. He was living in Morgan Hill at the time.

Elizando was booked into San Joaquin County Jail in French Camp, where he remains after an arraignment Monday afternoon at the Manteca courthouse. He will return to court at 1:30 p.m. Monday, May 19 for further arraignment.         

His charges carry a sentence of 15 years to life in prison.

Parents wishing to speak to police about the day care center can contact Manteca Detective Steven Beermann.