Orcutt Woman Accused of Sex with Minor

Santa Barbara Sheriff’s detectives arrested a 46-year-old Orcutt woman Wednesday afternoon for allegedly having sex with a minor over a four-year period. Michele Newberry met the victim — who she purportedly started sleeping with when he was 15 years old — through one of her children in 2007. The relationship recently ended.

“Detectives were first notified of the crimes in June 2011,” said Sheriff’s Department spokesperson Drew Sugars, “which prompted an investigation that revealed that Newberry and the victim had unlawful sexual intercourse repeatedly.” Authorities also discovered that Newberry and the victim had exchanged numerous emails and text messages during the relationship, Sugars said.

Authorities arrested Newberry without incident and charged her with a number of felonies including oral copulation of a minor under 16 years old, lewd and lascivious acts with a child, and unlawful sexual intercourse. Bail was set at $100,000, which Newberry posted by 10 p.m., Wednesday night.