Boise man charged with child enticement

10:53 AM PDT on Friday, May 25, 2007

KTVB.com

Ada County Jail

Jesus Bello Liberato, 21, of Boise, has been charged with child enticement.

BOISE -- Boise Police have charged a man with child enticement after officers witnessed him ask a teenage girl if she wanted a ride. The officers were on special patrol looking for just that type of activity when the incident occurred.

Police have been following up on several cases of possible enticement reported in Boise Bench neighborhoods.

Jesus Bella Liberato, 21, a Mexican citizen, was arrested and charged with child enticement and failure to purchase a driver's license. He is also on an immigration hold and may be in the U.S. illegally.

"This is a case where children and their parents did exactly the right thing," said Boise Police Capt. Eugene Smith. "They reported suspicious activity to police, and we were able to investigate, and find and arrest a suspect."

In March, Boise Police began receiving reports of suspicious activity and possible child enticement. From March 1 through May 18, eight such reports were taken in Bench neighborhoods stretching from Ustick and Five Mile roads to Franklin Road and Orchard Street.

"We know these reports are frightening for the children and families involved," said Smith. "When we saw the pattern developing, officers made this case a priority."

On May 9th, investigators noticed a pattern developing of suspicious activity related to possible child enticement. The suspicious activity was occurring in the afternoons and early evenings on Tuesdays, Thursday and Fridays.

A vague description of a suspect was developed. He was believed to be a dark skinned, possibly Hispanic male in his late teens or early 20's, driving a dark sedan. The behavior included the sedan's driver asking children and teens if they wanted a ride. In two of the cases, the suspect got out of the car and followed the children some distance on foot.

"Any single report, unfortunately, didn't have much detail or a good lead for officers to go on," said Smith. "But combined, the reports revealed information that officers could build on and investigate."

Here is what police say happened when the pattern was identified:

A detective began investigating, following up with more victim and witness interviews.

Bench patrol officers were alerted to the possible suspect vehicle and suspicious activity.

A special team of two officers was designated to patrol during the identified times to look specifically for the suspicious activity and the suspect vehicle.

On the afternoon of May 24 at about 3:30 p.m., three officers on special patrol near Orchard and Franklin saw a small dark colored sedan slow down. The officers continued to watch as the sedan's driver spoke to a teenage girl walking down the street.

When the car drove off, the officers spoke to the girl, then stopped the vehicle and detained the driver for further investigation.

Detectives have charged Jesus Bello Liberato with child enticement in connection with an incident that took place on May 18 at 3:30 pm at Curtis Road and Cassia Street where the victim was a 15-year-old girl.

Boise Police detectives believe there may be other cases of possible enticement involving this suspect that have not been reported to police.

If anyone has more information, they're urged to call Crime Stoppers at 343-COPS.


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