Santa Rosa sex offender arrested; failed to register for over 25 years

A convicted sex offender suspected of failing to register with authorities for over a quarter century was arrested Wednesday following an investigation by Santa Rosa police.

Fernando Arellano Herrera, 54, of Santa Rosa, was taken into custody during a planned traffic stop about 7:20 a.m. near Spring Creek Drive and Carley Road in the Montgomery Village neighborhood. He was booked into the Sonoma County Jail on charges that included failing to register as a sex offender. Bail was set at $75,000.

An investigation began early this month after police received information about Herrera, according to a police press release.

A detective checked and was unable to find any record of the man registering as a sex offender in connection with a 1991 conviction for sexual assault, the release stated. As a result of that conviction, Herrera is required to register at least once a year.

Also, Herrera reportedly was using an alias rather than his true name, police said.