A Stockton man accused of molesting three children has been arrested after a 17-month-long investigation, authorities said.Ruben Andrew Close, 43, was taken into custody on Wednesday around 11 a.m., the San Joaquin County Sheriff's Office said in a release on Thursday.Investigators said two victims came forward in January 2021. They reported Close had abused them for years. During the investigation, detectives found a third victim. Close went into hiding and evaded arrest. "After months of research and surveillance, detectives were finally able to verify where Close was staying," the sheriff's office release said.Authorities said Close confessed to molesting the three victims during his interview with detectives. Close was booked into the San Joaquin County Jail. He faces 39 felony counts of abuse. The sheriff's office said more charges may come forward as well. His bail is set at $31.5 million. No other details were released "out of respect for the families," the sheriff's office said.