Detectives with the San Luis Obispo County Sheriff’s Office are asking any possible witnesses or victims to come forward in connection with the arrest of a 45-year-old Cambria man on suspicion of numerous sex crimes involving a juvenile victim.

Enrique Merlos was arrested March 8 on three felony charges, posted bail, then was arrested again March 15 and charged with six additional felonies after detectives investigated the case further.

He posted bail both times. Bail was $100,000 and $250,000, respectively.

Merlos is due back in court April 10.

After the first arrest, he had been subject to a protective order barring him

from contact with his alleged victims.

The department is alleging more than one count of sexual abuse of a child, mayhem, assault with a deadly weapon to produce great bodily injury and domestic violence causing injury.

Maximum sentences for the nine charges total 62 years, with a possible life sentence with the possibility of parole for one of the child sex abuse charges if the victim was injured. Three of the charges are enhancements — adding

additional prison time — for causing bodily injury in commission of a felony. The mayhem charge involves inflicting disabling or disfiguring injury.

The department is continuing its investigation and is asking the public to contact sheriff's officials with any information they have.

Investigators are looking for additional witnesses in the current case or previously unreported victims from past incidents.

The public can contact the Sheriff's Office at the general dispatch number, 781-4550, or through the Crime Stoppers line at 549- 7867.

— Staff