Crime & Safety

Half Moon Bay Molestation Defendant Withheld Toys For Sex, DA Says

Abuse went on for a couple of years until April 2010 when the victim disclosed the suspect's crimes to a friend.

Jury selection continues this morning for a Half Moon Bay man accused of forcing a young relative to perform sex acts by withholding her stuffed animals, District Attorney Steve Wagstaffe said.

The alleged sex offender faces 10 child molestation counts, which include an allegation he used force, for abuse that started at his home in 2008, said Wagstaffe.

The alleged abuse began with the half uncle, 23, taking the relative's stuffed animals and returning them only after she had carried out a sex act, prosecutors said. It progressed with him allegedly threatening to hurt her dolls if she didn't comply with his sexual demands.

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The victim spent her school breaks at the suspect’s home In Half Moon Bay. The molestation of the victim allegedly started at age nine and went on for a couple of years until April 2010 when the victim finally disclosed the suspect’s crimes to her friend and eventually her parents.

The San Mateo County Sheriff's Office began investigating the case after another family member reported the alleged abuse.

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The suspect denies all of the accusations, which led him to seeking a jury trial.

The case was assigned Monday to Judge Clifford Cretan's San Mateo County courtroom, where attorneys dealt with pretrial motions and jury selection, Wagstaffe said.

The defendant remains out of custody on $500,000 property bond.

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