San Benito County Sheriff’s deputies are continuing an
investigation into a San Juan Bautista man suspected of molesting
an 11-year-old girl and possessing a 42-page guide for pedophiles
on how to avoid police detection, according to law enforcement
officials.
Hollister – San Benito County Sheriff’s deputies are continuing an investigation into a San Juan Bautista man suspected of molesting an 11-year-old girl and possessing a 42-page guide for pedophiles on how to avoid police detection, according to law enforcement officials.
Police arrested William Lavagnino Jr., 53, of San Juan Bautista earlier this month on three separate child molestation charges and seized an extensive collection of pornographic material from his home, Detective Bryan Penney said Tuesday.
“It’s a very serious situation – he was a child predator hiding among us,” he said. “We were very fortunate to catch him before he committed rape, kidnap or murder. This could have escalated into something far worse. We were glad to get him off the streets.”
Lavagnino is free on $101,000 bail, but police have secured a protective order for the victim, who lives near Lavagnino’s home. Police were alerted to the incident after the victim’s father brought in several sexually-themed notes Lavagnino had written to the girl. Police then arrested him and seized several letters, a 42-page “Introduction and Beginners Guide to Survival in Preteen Erotica,” a computer and numerous pornographic DVDs, Penney said.
The guide instructs readers on how to participate in an Internet news group that “deals with a subject matter considered illegal in many countries, and improper in others,” according to police.
The computer and DVDs have since been sent to the San Jose Police Department High-tech Investigation Division to determine if they contain child pornography. Penney is waiting for the results of that investigation, but Lavagnino submitted a written statement admitting that he had used the computer to access child pornography on the Internet, Penney said.
“It was disturbing to see his deep fascination with the victim as well as the child pornography,” Penney said. “Our investigation is ongoing – we have not received the results of the computer analysis, which we believe to contain child pornography.”
Lavagnino declined to comment on the matter before talking with his attorney.
Lavagnino was arrested with child molestation and sending harmful material with the intent to seduce a minor, both felonies, along with misdemeanor annoying a child under 18. Police said Lavagnino admitted to touching the victim inappropriately and asking her to partially undress, and seized evidence to substantiate the other two charges.
If convicted, he faces a maximum of 10 years in prison, according to the California Penal Code.
Brett Rowland covers education for the Free Lance. He can be reached at 831-637-5566 ext. 330 or [email protected].
