http://www.bakersfield.com/102/story/72815.html

Boy says he was molested in park
BY JASON KOTOWSKI, Californian staff writer
e-mail: jkotowski@bakersfield.com | Monday, Sep 11 2006 10:25 PM
Last Updated: Monday, Sep 11 2006 10:29 PM

A man is accused of molesting a 12-year-old boy at a park Sunday afternoon.

Jose Martinez-Frias, 45, reportedly admitted to molesting the child at Lamont Park, according to a news release from the Kern County Sheriff's Department.

Martinez-Frias, an illegal immigrant who had previously been deported from the U.S., did not know the child, sheriff's senior deputy John Money said.

After the incident, the boy went to a pay phone and called 911. The boy reported that he was molested at about 1:30 p.m. He had gone to the park by himself, Money said.

The molestation reportedly took place in a common area by a playground and baseball field. A few other people were in the area at the time, Money said.

Deputies from the Lamont Substation arrived soon after the call and arrested Martinez-Frias on suspicion of lewd acts with a child under 14, molesting a child, sexual battery and immigration violations. He was booked into the downtown jail.

Money said Martinez-Frias does not have a criminal record.

To help prevent incidents of molestation, Money recommended that children who are not supervised by adults only go out with a group of friends and visit places they're familiar with.

"Most victims are by themselves," Money said.

Bakersfield police Detective Greg Terry said parents should talk with their children about what to do when approached by a stranger. Molesters will hang out in areas, including parks, where they have access to children, Terry said.

Children should never follow a stranger or give information about themselves, he added. They should just walk away.

"Scream and yell if (the stranger) grabs you, and create as much of a disturbance as possible," Terry said.