SANGER - Detectives with the Fresno County Sheriff’s Office Sex Crimes Unit have arrested 53 year old Edward Lira of Sanger. He is facing multiple felony charges, which include sex acts with a child under 14. On January 4th, the Sheriff’s Office received reports from two teenage girls who have suffered sexual abuse for several years, dating back to 2005.

The girls identified Edward Lira as the man responsible for committing the crimes against them. Lira is not a relative of the girls, but knew them from prior interactions with their family.

On January 5th, deputies contacted Lira at his workplace, located on the 600 block of South 5th Street in Fowler, and placed him under arrest. Detectives later searched Lira’s residence on the 3300 block of S. Greenwood Ave. in Sanger. He remains in the Fresno County Jail. His bail is set at $465,000.

Edward Lira is a registered sex offender who was released from prison in 1999 after serving time for a conviction of oral copulation with a child under 14. At the time of last week’s arrest, Lira was in compliance of his registration requirements with the Fresno County Sheriff’s Office. He is currently listed on California’s Megan’s Law website.

Detectives are seeking the public’s help to identify other possible victims. If anyone in the community has more information about Edward Lira,
please contact Sergeant Jeff Kertson at (559) 600-8144 or the Sheriff’s Dispatch Center at (559) 600-3111. You may reference case number 18197.