FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 17, 2010
CONTACT: Erica Terry Derryck, DA Harris’ Office, (415) 553-1167
SAN FRANCISCO DISTRICT ATTORNEY KAMALA D. HARRIS ANNOUNCES ARRAIGNMENT OF ALLEGED CHILD SEX ABUSER ON 7 FELONY COUNTS
SAN FRANCISCO, CA – District Attorney Kamala D. Harris announced today the arraignment of Pedro Hernandez, age 68, who is charged with seven felony counts involving the sexual assault of his step-granddaughter.
The defendant is charged with one felony count in violation of California Penal Code Section 288.5, continuous abuse of a minor, three felony counts in violations of California Penal Code Section 288.7(a), intercourse or sodomy with a child under the age of ten, and three felony counts in violation of California Penal Code Section 288.7(b) digital penetration or oral copulation with a child under the age of ten.
According to the court documents, defendant Hernandez is alleged to have sexually assaulted his 8-year-old step-granddaughter. On June 3, 2010 the defendant brought food to the victim at her school, Sanchez Elementary School in the Castro, which was apparently a ruse he used regularly to isolate the victim so he could assault her.
A surveillance video captured the attack. When a teacher’s aide came upon the scene, the defendant ceased his assault and fled. The victim was immediately taken to the hospital for treatment and the crime was reported to authorities. The defendant is alleged to have assaulted the victim at least three times over a period of 11 months.
On the evening of June 3, 2010, the San Francisco District Attorney’s Office issued an arrest warrant for the defendant, charging him with the above seven felony counts. The San Francisco Police Department Fugitive Recovery Team began searching for the suspect and all California law enforcement agencies were notified of the search.
On June 8, 2010, San Francisco Police arrested the adult children of the defendant. Marisol Lopez and Jesus Hernandez, the defendant’s stepdaughter and son were charged by the San Francisco District Attorney’s Office for their role in assisting defendant Hernandez in his attempt to evade arrest. Marisol Lopez is charged with one count in violation of California Penal Code Section 32, accessory after the fact and Jesus Hernandez faces two counts of the same charge. They were arraigned in San Francisco Superior Court on June 11, 2010 and will be back in court on June 24, 2010 to set a date for the preliminary hearing.
Shortly after the arrest and charging of these two suspects, the San Francisco Police Department Fugitive Recovery Team apprehended defendant Hernandez at a homeless shelter in San Bruno, California. He was taken into custody on Thursday, June 10, 2010.
The defendant was arraigned on June 17, 2010 in Department 11 at the Hall of Justice. He pled not guilty before the Honorable Lucy McCabe. Marianne L. Barrett, the head of the Child Assault Unit for the San Francisco District Attorney’s Office handled today’s arraignment and Assistant District Attorney Sharon Reardon will prosecute the case.
San Francisco Police Department Inspectors William Murray and Kelly Carroll have led the investigation. Patricia Barragan is the Victim Witness Advocate from the San Francisco District Attorney’s Office assisting the victim and her family.
The defendant is currently being held in custody at the San Francisco county jail on $2 million bail. Prosecutors secured a protective order, as well as a stay away order. The defendant’s next scheduled appearance is on July 8, 2010 in Department 11 to set a date for the preliminary hearing.
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