Man Arrested for Molestation and Lewd Behavior with Minor

A San Jose man has been arrested and charged with lewd behavior after a officer noticed the man and a teenage boy in a car on Sunday night, according to police.

At 10:53 p.m. Sunday, an officer on patrol approached an occupied vehicle in the Castro City neighborhood and spoke with the driver, Ismael Garcia, 30, and the 16-year-old male passenger, according to MVPD spokeswoman Liz Wylie.

According to the information released so far by the department, after the officer asked some questions, his suspicions arose, because he learned the two individuals were not related and appeared to be parked together for no reason late at night.

"The officer started talking to them and realized that something wasn't right," Wylie said.

Upon further investigation, Garcia allegedly told the officer that he had met the victim to engage in lewd sexual behavior. According to the police report, the suspect met the victim in an online chat forum where they exchanged cell phone numbers that resulted in exchanging text messages. Wylie confirmed the police have text messages as evidence.

Garcia apparently made arrangements to meet the victim at his home in Mountain View two days prior, on Friday, which allegedly resulted in Garcia molesting the victim.

On Sunday, according to the report, Garcia made arrangements to meet the victim once again at his home. He then picked up the teen at his residence and parked on Fair Oaks Avenue.

In a statement, Wylie shared that the officer contacted the pair before an additional molestation could occur. The officer arrested Garcia at midnight and transported him to police headquarters. Additional questioning took place in the station.

Some "physical evidence" was found in the car, though Wylie did not disclose what.

Wylie added that "there was no indication that there was any money transaction or that the suspect was trying to pimp the victim."

Garcia was booked in the county jail in San Jose for “arranging a meeting with a minor for the purpose of engaging in lewd and lascivious behavior,” a charge that has been upgraded to a felony.

If convicted, Garcia faces up two-four years for the felony count and either a fine up to $5,000 or up to one year in jail, or both, for the misdemeanor.