Police arrested a San Jose man on suspicion of sexually
assaulting a 16-year-old male from Gilroy.
Police arrested a San Jose man on suspicion of sexually assaulting a 16-year-old male from Gilroy.
Jason Mendoza, 36, was arrested Dec. 1 following an investigation into an incident reported by a Gilroy High School counselor Nov. 30. The victim, a Gilroy resident, and police initially believed the alleged crime occurred in Morgan Hill, but ultimately authorities determined Mendoza assaulted the teen at his San Jose apartment on Snell Road.
The teen reported that he met Mendoza at the Denny’s restaurant on Cochrane Road in Morgan Hill Nov. 26. The two had known each other for several years prior to that meeting, according to Sgt. Jerry Neumayer.
The teen agreed to go to Mendoza’s apartment, where he gave the boy alcoholic drinks then sexually assaulted him, police said. Mendoza later took the victim back to Gilroy.
About 8:30 p.m. Dec. 1, the Morgan Hill Special Operations team arrested Mendoza at the parking lot of McDonald’s at 6990 Chestnut Ave. in Gilroy. A search of Mendoza’s San Jose apartment was conducted and police found and seized evidence, Neumayer said. He declined to specify what kind of evidence was found.
Mendoza was arrested on suspicion of committing sex acts on a child and committing a crime while released on bail for other charges, Neumayer said. Police did not know what charges he was out on bail for. Neumayer said Mendoza was out on bail for similar charges involving a different victim. The suspect was booked into Santa Clara County Jail.
Anyone with information about this crime, or anyone who believes they may have been victimized, may call Morgan Hill Police Detective Carson Thomas at (408) 779-2101 or the anonymous tip line at (408) 947-7867.
