Los Angeles: Los Angeles detectives released the photograph of Jorge Fernandez, 47,out of caution and the potential there may be more young victims withwhom he has had contact.
Detectivesassigned to the Central Police Station arrested Fernandez on March 5,2010, after he and his wife met with childrens social workers in theMid Wilshire area of Los Angeles. Fernandez was booked on a charge ofLewd Acts with a Child, and his bail was set at $100,000.
We believe the case we are investigating may be just one of severalother crimes against children, said Lt. Paul Vernon, commandingofficer of the Central Detective Division. Fernandez was arrested fora similar act in 2008, and pled guilty to battery and willful crueltyto a child.
Last January, a mother and her 13-year-old daughter flew from threestates away into California to report the crime against Fernandez. Three years ago, when the daughter was 10, this mother walked into anoffice at 634 South Spring Street to enroll her daughter in a Mexicancivic program, run by Jorge Fernandez.
After meeting the young girl, Fernandez and his wife quickly invitedthe 10-year-old to stay overnight at their downtown residence, so thegirl could play with Fernandezs young daughter. According to thevictim, now 13, Fernandez fondled the girl on three occasions over thenext several months. The victim only recently revealed thisinformation during counseling sessions at her new home, out of state.
The mother and daughter felt compelled to come all this way to makethis report, Lt. Vernon added. Given the prior similar acts andconviction, as well as Fernandezs apparent frequent contact withchildren, we thought it prudent to release his photograph to helpidentify other victims.
Fernandez is a self-described Hispanic community organizer, involved inthe local, annual Mexican Independence Day parade in Huntington Park. He promotes a self-help improvement service for Hispanics and has beenaffiliated with the Comte Mexicano Civico Patriotico in HuntingtonPark, as well as the Federation de Mexico Unidos, once located onSpring Street in downtown Los Angeles.
Much of Fernandezs organizing efforts dealt with recruiting youngchildren into his civic programs, Lt. Vernon explained, and thatsent up a big flag for us.
Anyone with information on this case should call Detective ReynaldoMartinez, Central Detectives, at 213-972-1230. Tipsters can callCrimestoppers at 800-222-TIPS (8477). Tipsters may contactCrimestoppers by texting the number 274637 (C-R-I-M-E-S on mostkeypads) with a cell phone. All text messages should begin with theletters LAPD. Tipsters may also go to LAPDOnline.org, click onwebtips and follow the prompts. Tipsters may remain anonymous.
A photo of Fernandez is available by email from Media Relations Section.