On August 26, 2014 at approximately 3:35 p.m., Los Banos Police Officers responded to the 1500 block of Canal Farm Lane related to the report of a suspicious male following a young female.
The 14-year-old girl walked to a store in the 1700 block of Pacheco Boulevard to purchase a drink. As the girl entered the business, she was confronted by the suspect, who asked her if she wanted to smoke marijuana with him.
The girl told the man “no” and related she was only 14-years-old. As the girl exited the business and began to walk home, she noticed the man following her. The girl became frightened began to walk faster to avoid the man. The man continued following the girl and tried to catch up to her again. The girl ran to a nearby residence for help and called police.
Officers located the man, 23-year-old Jesse Benavidez in the area. Benavidez told the officers he waited for the girl to exit the store and admitted to following the girl.
“We encourage parents to talk to their children and remind them about the dangers of talking to strangers.”
- Jason Hedden, Police Commander
The suspect has no history of similar crimes and claims to have had no ill intentions. The suspect told police, he merely wanted to “hangout” and smoke marijuana with the girl.
Benavidez was booked into the Los Banos Police Department, charged with annoying or molesting a child, attempted kidnapping, inducement of minor, and attempted kidnapping. Benavidez is free on bail.
To leave an anonymous crime tip call 209-827-7070 Ext. 288. If you have access to a computer and the internet you can also leave an anonymous tip at the Police Department’s web page at www.losbanos.org. At the bottom of the “Contact” page simply click on the “report graffiti and other crime” link or visit the Merced Area Crime Stoppers by telephone at 1-855-725-2420, or at www.mercedareacrimestoppers.org
