San Rafael police arrested 25-year-old John Jeremiah Hernandez after a forensic search of his cellphone allegedly uncovered a large cache of child sexual abuse material, following a report that he was photographing underage girls at a local shopping center.
How Police Say They Uncovered the Material
According to a press release from the San Rafael Police Department, officers were dispatched to the Northgate One shopping center area on June 12 after a caller reported a man taking photos of minor girls. Officers contacted Hernandez at the scene and seized his cellphone as evidence for forensic analysis.
Detectives later obtained a search warrant for the device. The San Rafael Police Department says that a forensic review of the phone turned up a large quantity of suspected child sexual abuse material, which investigators say became the basis for the arrest. The case is listed under report number SR26-03067 and remains an active investigation.
Booking Records And Bail
Detectives arrested Hernandez at his San Rafael residence today and booked him into the Marin County Jail. Public booking records list his bail at $10,000 and show his employer as Starbucks, information visible in the Marin County booking log. Investigators say they are still following up on leads and are not releasing additional case details at this time.
What The Law Says
Possessing child sexual abuse material can be charged as a felony under California Penal Code §311.11, which allows for a sentence in state prison or county jail and can require mandatory sex-offender registration upon conviction. The statute, including recent amendments, broadens its reach to cover AI-generated imagery.
Investigation Ongoing
The San Rafael Police Department says detectives are continuing their investigation and treating the case as a high priority because it involves the alleged exploitation of minors. Anyone with information is asked to call the department's non-emergency line at (415) 485-3000 or submit a tip online. For now, the San Rafael Police Department says no further information is available for public release.
