A plea hearing for a Gilroy man charged with sexual abuse of a
15-year-old female runaway who was living in his home has been
delayed more than three weeks.
A plea hearing for a Gilroy man charged with sexual abuse of a 15-year-old female runaway who was living in his home has been delayed more than three weeks.
Jesse Arias, 52, is now set to enter a plea 1:30 p.m. Tuesday, June 28 in Dept. 109 of the South County Courthouse in Morgan Hill, Superior Court Judge Andrea Flint said Friday morning.
The delay was requested by Irma Gallardo, a public defender serving as Arias’ legal counsel.
Arias has been charged on five counts: three for lewd or lascivious act on a child age 14 or 15, one for possession of matter depicting a person under 18 engaging in sexual conduct and one for distributing harmful matter to a minor.
Stuart Scott, Santa Clara County deputy district attorney, said some evidence in the case was “clearly child pornography.”
Although actions between Arias and the girl were likely consensual, Scott said, “Bottom line is you can’t shack up with a 15-year-old and take pictures of what you’re doing with her.”
Arias was taken into custody May 23 following a report that he invited a 20-year-old woman he met at a nearby bus stop to his house May 21 in the 200 block of Old Gilroy Street and raped her while she was “under the influence of an intoxicant,” according to the GPD.
After arresting Arias, the GPD obtained a search warrant and discovered a reported runaway juvenile, police said.
Police determined the juvenile, 15, had been living with Arias for several months and had also been the victim of sexual abuse.
As of Friday, no charges have been filed regarding the alleged incident with the 20-year-old woman.
“We’re still looking into the second victim,” Scott said.
