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Man In Soledad Accused Of Kidnapping, Molestation
Suspect Arrested As He Tried To Get Jacket

POSTED: 2:33 pm PDT August 1, 2006
UPDATED: 2:35 pm PDT August 1, 2006

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SOLEDAD, Calif. -- A man who allegedly fondled a 10-year-old girl after dragging her out of her bedroom and tying her hands was arrested when he tried to fetch a jacket left behind, investigators said.

Geronimo Islas Hernandez, 30, who was renting a room in the home, was booked for investigation of kidnapping, child molestation by force and false imprisonment, Monterey County Sheriff's Sgt. Ron Willis said.

Hernandez allegedly picked the lock to the girl's bedroom door before forcibly dragging her out of bed and into his room, Willis said. He tied up her hands and fondled her through her clothing, the sergeant said.

The girl's mother told investigators she heard noises, went to his room to investigate and found him undressed with her daughter. Hernandez fled and she called deputies, Willis said.

Hernandez telephoned the next morning to ask another man living in the home if he could bring him his jacket. Hernandez arranged to meet the man at a park to fetch the jacket, investigators said.

He was arrested during a rendezvous at the park.

"There was a good chance he was planning to flee to Mexico," said Willis, who added he believes Hernandez is a migrant field worker.