| For Immediate Release Case # 10CM03950
|
Susan Kang Schroeder Chief of Staff Office: 714-347-8408 Cell: 714-292-2718 Farrah Emami |
OCDA SEEKS PUBLIC’S HELP IDENTIFYING POTENTIAL ADDITIONAL VICTIMS OF MAN CHARGED WITH GRABBING TWO MIDDLE SCHOOL GIRLS ON BUS
SANTA ANA – The Orange County District Attorney (OCDA) is asking for the public’s help in identifying potential additional victims of a man charged with grabbing two female middle school students after positioning himself behind them on a bus. Jose Antonio Hernandez, 45, Santa Ana, is charged with two misdemeanor counts of child annoyance and two misdemeanor counts of battery. The defendant faces a maximum sentence of three years in jail if convicted and is being held on $10,000 bail. Hernandez is scheduled for a pre-trial hearing tomorrow, Friday, May 14, 2010, at 9:00 a.m. in Department C-47, Central Justice Center, Santa Ana.
On April 19, 2010, Hernandez is accused of approaching an 11-year-old girl, Child Doe #2, while riding a bus in Santa Ana. The victim was on her way home from school. Hernandez is accused of standing behind Child Doe #2, grabbing her shoulders, and pulling her back so that her body was nearly touching his. The victim pulled away and moved to another part of the bus.
On April 20, 2010, Hernandez is accused of riding a bus on the same route and approaching another young girl, 13-year-old Child Doe #1. The victim was on her way home from school. Hernandez is accused of staring at the victim and then approaching her. He is accused of standing close behind Child Doe #1 and putting his hands around her waist, holding her for several seconds until she elbowed him with both arms and was able to get away and get off the bus.
The two victims in this case attend the same school but do not know each other. Both victims independently told the Assistant Principal about their contact with a man wearing a red baseball cap and red backpack, and the Assistant Principal contacted the police.
On May 4, 2010, deputies from the Orange County Sheriff’s Department arrested Hernandez after locating him on a bus on the same route at the same time that the two child annoyance cases had occurred.
Based on the circumstances of this case, the OCDA is asking the public’s help in identifying potential additional victims. Anyone with additional information or who believes they have been a victim is encouraged to contact Supervising District Attorney Investigator Carl Waddell at (714) 834-7538.
Deputy District Attorney Bobby Taghavi is prosecuting this case.
###