Detectives: Man Arrested for Allegedly Assaulting Child in Oxnard Walmart May Be Responsible For Dozens More

Juan Francisco Gonzalez, 39, of Oxnard, was arrested on May 26 after a Walmart employee recognized him from surveillance video


By Samantha Tata

| Monday, Jun 4, 2012 |
VIDEO REPORT AT LINK

Detectives believe a man arrested last month on suspicion of sexually assaulting a child in an Oxnard Walmart may be responsible for up to 20 sexual assaults in at least three other Oxnard stores, officials said.

Hours of surveillance video have allowed detectives to identify five additional victims so far, police said in a statement released Monday.

Juan Francisco Gonzalez, 39, of Oxnard, was arrested on May 26 after a Walmart employee recognized him from surveillance video that showed a man allegedly assaulting a child, police said.

The night before, on May 25, police responded to the Walmart at 2001 N. Rose Avenue in Oxnard after receiving a call that a child had been sexually assaulted.
The victim told police that he had been in the store’s electronics section when a man approached and sexually assaulted him, an incident captured by the store’s surveillance camera.

"Their attention is focused on the game and then he would have physical contact with them while they're playing the game," said Monica Munoz, with Oxnard police department.

Police said a similar incident happened in January at the same store involving another boy. That incident was also reported, but no suspect was identified.
Detectives believe Gonzalez may have committed similar acts at the Caballeros Circus on Saviers Road in March or April, and possibly at the Game Stop on Rose Avenue.

Maria Chay, a mother of four, was outside that Game Stop on Monday night and said she's surprised by the news.

"I can't believe it’s happening here in Oxnard," Chay said. "It’s, like, family-oriented and it’s somewhere you can actually be safe and your kids can be safe so I would’ve never thought something like that would have happened."

The suspect’s alleged victims are all boys between the ages of 7 and 10 years old. Detectives said Gonzalez does not remove the children’s clothes, but has “physical contact with them in a sexual manner.”

Gonzalez is being held in the Ventura County Jail on $50,000 bond, and is not eligible for bail because of an immigration hold, officials said.

Anyone with information about this suspect or if they believe their child may have been a victim is asked to call Oxnard PD at (805) 385-7740 or (805) 385-7662.

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