A Hollister man was arrested for three felony counts of child
molestation after he allegedly inappropriately touched a
10-year-old girl on New Year’s Eve, according to police.
Hollister – A Hollister man was arrested for three felony counts of child molestation after he allegedly inappropriately touched a 10-year-old girl on New Year’s Eve, according to police.
John Gordon Yoder, 59, was arrested by Hollister Police Detective Rudy Rodriguez at his home in the 1000 block of Terrace Drive Tuesday afternoon, Rodriguez said.
Police were notified of the incident on Sunday afternoon and arrested Yoder after only two days of interviews and investigation, he said.
“Wham, bam, boom – we got everything we needed in the investigation,” Rodriguez said.
The girl, who lives in Newman, was staying at Yoder’s home with her parents over the New Year holiday. Sometime between Friday night and Saturday morning Yoder touched her inappropriately, Rodriguez said. Yoder, who has adult children who live out of state, took the girl to different rooms of the home while her parents and his wife were inside the residence, Rodriguez said.
Yoder and the girl had previous contact, but the girl told police he had never touched her inappropriately before that night, Rodriguez said. Rodriguez made the arrest after interviewing Yoder, which he said was a significant piece of the investigation.
“He talked,” he said.
After returning home to Newman, the girl told her parents about the incident, said Capt. Richard Vasquez.
“She told her dad when they got home about not liking to visit (Yoder) anymore,” Vasquez said. “During the conversation she told him about areas the suspect had touched her, and they called us.”
Yoder was arrested with three counts of committing a lewd or lascivious act with a child because the child said there were three separate incidences. If convicted, Yoder could face up to eight years in prison.
Yoder was booked into the San Benito County Jail in lieu of $150,000 bail and is still in custody. This is Yoder’s first visit to the county jail and he doesn’t have any history of child molestation in San Benito County, Rodriguez said.
Erin Musgrave covers public safety for the Free Lance. Reach her at 637-5566, ext. 336 or [email protected]
