Democrat former mayor and cannabis entrepreneur is arrested for 'sexual assault on a minor'

A Californian cannabis entrepreneur turned Democratic mayor was arrested Saturday on suspicion of sexually assaulting a minor aged 14 or 15 and possessing child pornography. 

Police arrested former Sebastopol Mayor Robert Jacob, 44, over alleged attacks that occurred in the city between December 2019 and March 2021 – while he was no longer in elected office. 

It came after police received a call on March 30 describing a number of offences said to have been carried out by Jacob, who was elected mayor in 2013 and served one term. 

Police arrested former Sebastopol Mayor Robert Jacob, 44, over alleged felony sexual assaults that occurred in the city between December 2019 and March 2021 – while he was no longer in elected office

Police Chief Kevin Kilgore said Jacob was arrested just after 7am on charges including forcible penetration of a child aged 14 or 15 and a number of other sex crimes against minors.  

‘Right now, that investigation is ongoing for a determination as to the number of victims,’ said Kilgore. 

Jacob is now being held without bail at Sonoma County Main Adult Detention Facility on suspicion of five felonies and one misdemeanor. 

The charges also include transporting a minor for the purposes of having sex with them and soliciting a minor for lewd purposes. 

Jacob made history as the first US mayor to have served in the medical cannabis industry, owning two cannabis dispensaries at the time of his election in December 2013. 

He served only one term, which included a six-month leave of absence to deal with a family illness. 

Jacob did not seek re-election but served a variety of roles on the city council before leaving in December 2017.

The businessman, who describes himself as an ‘inspirational leader’ on LinkedIn, founded the Sebastopol medical marijuana dispensary Peace in Medicine in 2007. 

A LinkedIn page under his name lists him as the principal of Robert Jacob Executive Consulting, which assists cannabis start-ups. 

Jacob is now being held without bail at Sonoma County Main Adult Detention Facility on suspicion of five felonies and one misdemeanor

In 2015, Peace In Medicine merged its two stores in Sonama County with Sparc, a high-profile cannabis dispensary, the San Francisco Chronicle reported. 

Current Sebastopol Mayor Una Glass said the charges against him were ‘very disappointing’. 

She added: ‘This is very, very disappointing, and I hope the victims of anything that he has done are taken care of’. 

‘It’s extremely disappointing.’    

Kilgore said. ‘We’ll continue to see if we have more victims, and we would encourage anyone who may have information to please reach out to us. 

‘It’s important to note that these are all sexual assault crimes against a minor.’ 

The police contact number is 707-829-4400.