A 49-year-old man was recently taken to a San Mateo County jail on suspicion he abused young relatives.

The San Mateo County Sheriff's Department Deputy Rebecca Rosenblatt told the San Mateo County Times that Richard Kenneth Watterworth was arrested at his home late last month after a family member reported the abuse of children, which is alleged to have been going on for a while. The sheriff's department did not specify a duration it was believed the abuse went on, the article stated.

At the time of the arrest, investigators also searched the man's home, but the source said police did not report whether any items were taken as evidence.

The Daily Journal reported Watterworth is from Millbrae, and along with the abuse charges, he faces charges for exhibiting a firearm and making criminal threats. Watterworth is believed to have abused at least one underage relative over a "lengthy period."

The news source said he is being held at the San Mateo County Maguire Correctional Facility. This is the county's main jail, which primarily houses male inmates.