Petaluma Taekwondo Instructor Arrested on Child Sex Abuse Charges

Police arrested Luis Menjivar Chicas, a 48-year-old Petaluma resident and Taekwondo instructor, on November 14 after a traffic stop. The arrest followed investigations by Petaluma and Santa Rosa police and a warrant requested by the Sonoma County District Attorney’s Office. He was booked into Sonoma County jail, with bail set at $250,000, police said.

Santa Rosa police opened an investigation in 2024 after learning that a minor was reportedly sexually assaulted. Two more people said they had been assaulted by Chicas when they were minors living in Santa Rosa. Police said the evidence gathered at that time was insufficient for prosecution.

Petaluma police began their investigation in January 2026 after receiving a report involving a 13-year-old. In April, two additional minors reported alleged assaults over several years, police said. They said Chicas had been renting a room in the family’s home when the alleged incidents occurred.

The charges include child lewdness, attempting to commit a felony assault against a juvenile, and continual sexual abuse of a child under 14. Police are also examining whether Chicas was teaching students when he was arrested. The investigation remains open, and police asked people with relevant information to contact detectives.