Overview
- The Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office arrested Shane Ryan Gledhill in early August 2026 on 15 felony counts that include child molestation, rape, forcible sexual assault, contacting a minor with intent to commit a sexual offense, possession of child sexual abuse material, and providing harmful matter to a minor.
- Authorities say the multi-year probe began after a report in November 2021 and that a February 2022 search of Gledhill’s Lompoc home recovered thousands of digital files that investigators forensically examined to identify victims.
- Investigators have identified nine people who were minors when they had contact with Gledhill and officials warn additional survivors or witnesses may still come forward as the inquiry continues.
- Sheriff’s investigators say Gledhill used professional names and active social accounts tied to casting and filmmaking to recruit victims, listing aliases and handles such as Shane Ryan, Shane Ryan-Reid, @madsincinema and related websites as part of the case file.
- Detectives have released a booking photo, set bail at $500,000, asked anyone with information to contact the sheriff’s office or submit anonymous tips, and directed survivors to local victim-support services as prosecutors and investigators pursue further identifications and potential charges.