Tuolumne County deputies arrest Sonora man in sexual assault of a 13-year-old

Key Takeaways

• Andrew James Lee, 33, of Sonora, was arrested on felony charges including rape by force or fear, lewd or lascivious acts with a child under 14, sexual penetration of a minor, and burglary.
• The 13-year-old victim told deputies Lee followed the juvenile home from a convenience store and sexually assaulted them.
• The Tuolumne County Sheriff's Office says the call came in at about 2:25 a.m. on July 24, 2026; one local report described the call as coming in the afternoon.
• Lee was booked into Dambacher Detention Center and remains held on $150,000 bail.
• The investigation remains active and sheriff's officials say no further information will be released at this time.

Tuolumne County sheriff's deputies have arrested a Sonora man in connection with the sexual assault of a 13-year-old. The case has raised alarm in the Sonora area and remains under active investigation.

Arrest in Sonora

According to the Tuolumne County Sheriff's Office, deputies were sent to a Sonora residence on July 24, 2026, after a reporting party said a 13-year-old juvenile had been followed home by an adult male and was believed to be in danger. The reporting party told dispatchers that the victim, referred to as 'Confidential Victim' to protect their identity, had sent text messages saying an adult male followed the juvenile home, entered the residence, and was outside making threats toward the victim's family.

Deputies found 33-year-old Andrew James Lee near the victim's residence and detained him. During the investigation, the victim told deputies that Lee had encountered the juvenile at a convenience store, followed the juvenile to the residence, and committed a sexual assault. Detectives took over the case and questioned Lee at the sheriff's investigations office.

Lee was later booked into Dambacher Detention Center on the following charges:

• Rape by force or fear, in violation of Penal Code 261(a)(2)
• Lewd or lascivious acts with a child under 14, in violation of Penal Code 288(a)
• Sexual penetration of a minor, in violation of Penal Code 289(c)
• Burglary, in violation of Penal Code 459

He remains in custody on $150,000 bail.

Discrepancy in the timeline

One local report said the initial call to the sheriff's office came in the afternoon of July 24. The sheriff's office account says the report was received at approximately 2:25 a.m. that day. The reason for the difference has not been explained.

Local California Context

Sonora is the county seat of Tuolumne County, a rural community in the Sierra Nevada foothills. The Tuolumne County Sheriff's Office is leading the investigation, and Lee is being held at the county jail in Dambacher. Cases involving juvenile victims are handled with heightened privacy protections, which is why the victim is identified only as 'Confidential Victim.'

Background

Lee has a prior arrest in Tuolumne County. In September 2020, he was arrested on suspicion of attempted arson after a witness called 911 to report someone trying to break into Day-O Espresso and set multiple fires in brush along the roadway in front of the business. Additionally, in December 2023, Lee was arrested while already behind bars for damaging equipment at the Dambacher Detention Center.

Conclusion

This is an active criminal investigation. Tuolumne County sheriff's officials have said they will release no further information at this time. Anyone with information is urged to contact the Tuolumne County Sheriff's Office.

Sources and Materials

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• goldrushcam