Los Angeles: Los Angeles police detectives have released the booking photo for MarcoJulio Gonzales, 41, who was arrested yesterday, January 25, 2010, on awarrant detectives sought for Annoying a Child under 14 and solicitingan act of prostitution, both misdemeanor crimes.
Thisman is a sex registrant for indecent exposure, said Lt. Paul Vernon,commanding officer of LAPDs Central Detective Division. The one soleincident hes charged with occurred at the William Mead HousingProject. Theres a good chance hes been to other neighborhoods, too.
A mother first reported to police that a man had approached her12-year-old daughter one year ago and offered the little girl $100 fororal sex. The little girl was so innocent, she did not understand theeuphemism the suspect used and went home to ask her mother to explain,Lt. Vernon said.
The incident was well known among the housing project residents, whokept the police updated on small bits of information, a partial licenseplate, car color, a physical description, when the suspect returnedfrom time to time. Last week, a resident saw the car and wrote downthe license plate. From that, detectives identified Gonzales. Itwasnt a surprise he was a sex registrant, Lt. Vernon explained. Thanks to the open communication between residents and the cops, wehave him in custody and no kids were physically harmed, that we knowof.
Detectives used a ruse to get Gonzales to come to the police stationwith his car. They booked him on the arrest warrant and his bail wasset at $40,000. He posted bond and was released the same day.
Gonzales is a resident of San Gabriel.
The crimes alleged amounted to misdemeanors so police needed toidentify the suspect and get a warrant from a judge in order to make anarrest. Otherwise, police would have had to catch him in the act, ora witness would have had to apprehend him and make a private personsarrest, Lt. Vernon added. It was probably better for Gonzales thepolice got him and not the residents.
Tipsters can call Detective Det. Josh Riggs at 213-972-1235. Duringnon-business hours, call 1-877-LAPD-24-7. Anyone wishing to remainanonymous may call Crimestoppers at 800-222-TIPS (8477). Tipsters maycontact Crimestoppers by texting the number 274637 (C-R-I-M-E-S) with acell phone. All text messages should begin with the letters LAPD.Tipsters may also go to LAPDOnline.org, click on webtips and followthe prompts.
Lt. Vernon is available for interviews at the Central Police Station. Gonzaless photo is available from Media Relations Section.