A Walnut Creek man, who last year was arrested on distressing charges involving a child, has now been sentenced to a term of over six years following a plea of guilty. Marc Alexander Simon, 28, faced the consequences of his actions in the Contra Costa County Superior Court, where Judge Charles Burch handed down a sentence of six years and eight months in state prison for felony charges of sexual abuse of a minor and aggravated possession of child sexual abuse material, Contra Costa County announced.
In addition to his prison sentence, Simon is mandated to register as a sex offender for the remainder of his life upon release. The conviction stems from an incident on April 11, 2024, where Simon followed a minor into a restroom at the Walnut Creek Library, engaging in the sexual abuse of the child. After being reported by the child to an adult, the Walnut Creek Police Department was contacted and quickly involved, Hoodline reported.
Using security camera footage, detectives could identify Simon's vehicle and apprehend him at another location in Walnut Creek. At the time of his arrest, Simon was found in possession of an iPhone, which, upon forensic examination, revealed hundreds of troubling images and videos of child sexual abuse material. Since his arrest, Simon has been in custody, beginning his prison sentence immediately.
The successful resolution of the case can be largely attributed to the swift action of the local Walnut Creek Police and the contributions of the Contra Costa County Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force. District Attorney Diana Becton emphasized the importance of these efforts, stating, “The swift investigative work by Walnut Creek Police and our Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force was crucial in holding the defendant accountable.” She continued to stress the commitment of these authorities to protecting children against predatory actions, as highlighted by Contra Costa County.
The case was led by Deputy District Attorney Ashley Torres from the Sexual Assault Unit, with the Walnut Creek Police Department Investigations Unit spearheading the investigation along with the support of the task force.
