NOVATO – The Novato Police had been informed by the Windsor Police Department in Sonoma County regarding a report of the ongoing sexual abuse of a minor that had previously occurred in the City of Novato. Further investigation revealed that multiple offenses may have occurred over a three year period in both Novato and San Rafael.
Detective Amy Yardley and Officer Reza Pourfahani were involved in the investigation which resulted in the arrest of Arturo Hernandez, a 37 year-old-man and resident of San Rafael’s Santa Venetia neighborhood. Hernandez listed his occupation as a “care giver.”
Though he once lived at the victim’s home, Hernandez now resides in the San Venetia area of San Rafael.
On July 6, Hernandez drove to Novato to meet with the victim and was taken into custody after being found seated in his vehicle in the Westamerica Bank parking lot on Redwood Boulevard. He was arrested without incident.
It is believed that Hernandez allegedly began sexually assaulting the victim when she was 13 years old. He was a roommate of the victim’s family at that time. The investigation is ongoing so as to fully explore the extent of abuse suffered by the victim.
Hernandez faces open felony charges of lewd and lascivious acts with a child under 14, penetration with a foreign object with a child under 14, oral copulation with a person under 16, sodomy with a person under 16, and lewd and lascivious acts with a child. Bail has been set at $100,000.
