Thread: Boy says he was molested in park

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.

I am proud of that kid for calling 911. Gosh, you can't let even a 12 year old out by himself now.

http://www.turnto23.com/news/9834428/detail.html

Illegal Immigrant Allegedly Molests Boy In Park

POSTED: 6:50 pm PDT September 12, 2006
UPDATED: 6:51 pm PDT September 12, 2006

LAMONT -- An illegal immigrant deported more than 20 years ago has been accused of molesting a child over the weekend.

23ABC spoke with the suspect late Tuesday afternoon and he gave his side of the story.

Jose Martinez-Frias said it has all been a misunderstanding. He said he was relaxing at Lamont Park Sunday afternoon when the 12-year-old boy he is accused of molesting approached him.

Speaking to 23ABC in Spanish, Martinez-Frias said he was playing with scratch-off lottery cards and allowed the curious 12-year-old to use his nails to scratch off a few cards in his lap.

Martinez-Frias said he never touched the boy inappropriately.

He said he eventually told the boy to go home and gave him a pat on the backside to send him on his way.

But the 12-year-old ran to a pay phone and called 911 to say he had been molested.

Martinez said he was only guilty of illegally entering the country. He came in March to work the field and was planning on returning to Mexico after the grape-picking season.

But he may be facing time behind bars.

Sgt. Richard Woods of the Kern County Sheriff's Department said, "Whenever a crime is committed -- if they are convicted they serve their time in a county jail or in a state prison, then they face deportation after that."

Martinez-Frias is also facing federal charges for re-entering the country illegally. In 1983, he was deported from Michigan to Mexico.