Gilroy
– A 14-year-old boy was sexually assaulted by an unknown man,
who offered him a ride to the library, then took him to Christmas
Hill Park instead.
Gilroy – A 14-year-old boy was sexually assaulted by an unknown man, who offered him a ride to the library, then took him to Christmas Hill Park instead.
The man picked up the teen in south Gilroy about 5pm Saturday, promising to drive him to the library. The teen accepted the ride, and the man drove instead to the Christmas Hill Park amphitheater, where he showed the teen a pornographic magazine. When another car drove into the parking lot, the man drove to the Ranch side of the park, west of Miller Ave., where he engaged in sexual acts with the boy.
When other cars drove by once more, the man drove away with the victim, this time to the new Gilroy Sports Park, where he engaged in sex acts with the teen again. Afterward, the man drove the teen to the library. The boy fled through the building, out the back door, went home and called the police.
The suspect is described as a 6-foot tall man wearing a white T-shirt and blue jeans, Hispanic, from 20 to 35 years in age, who speaks broken English with a Spanish accent. He drives a newer, black, 4-door car, of unknown make or model. Detectives are trying to obtain a sketch of the suspect, but the sketch was not available by press time Monday. Police declined to say whether forensic evidence had been collected.
Sgt. Joseph Deras said the episode shows why children and teens shouldn’t talk to strangers.
“Parents must impress upon them why that’s important, and this is a good example of that,” he said. “I’m not suggesting this teen did anything wrong, but he put himself in a bad situation. The results are tragic, and they could have been significantly worse.”
Reporting a sexual assault is key, added Perla Flores, who handles domestic violence and sexual assault cases for Community Solutions. Survivors of sexual assault have the legal right to have an advocate present during any medical or law enforcement interview.
Gilroy detectives are currently investigating the case. Anyone with additional information may call Gilroy detectives at 846-0350 or the Gilroy Tip Line at 846-0330.
