James G. Beldin, a registered sex offender, reportedly committed at least two “creepy” acts that got him put behind bars once again.
On Friday, July 31, Beldin was in a store in the shopping center at 1600 Willow Pass Road at about a quarter to four pm. He was wearing his court mandated ankle monitor for his past conviction of committing lewd and lascivious acts. Scissors in hand, he approached a woman from behind, and cut off a lock of her hair. As she turned to see what had happened, he drew the hair to his nose and smelled it. As she gazed in disbelief, Beldin turned and ran off. Knowing he was in trouble again, he cut off his ankle monitor to disappear from his parole officer.
The alarm was raised and information went out identifying Beldin as a wanted man for assault with a deadly weapon and robbery. The 52-year-old suspect was described as 6 feet tall and 180 pounds, short brown hair and hazel eyes. His vehicle, a gold 1991 Honda Accord was broadcast, and his status as a wanted parolee and registered sex offender was noted, and he was to be considered potentially armed and dangerous.
This incident wasn’t his only recent trouble with the law. Just a month prior, on June 27, he was arrested by Concord Police at the JCPenney Store at the Sun Valley Mall. He was charged with battery on an officer, but no further details were released on that incident.
Beldin turned up at this shopping center, up to no good again.
His photo, a distinctive face looking a little like actor Ed Harris, was broadcast over local news and social media. By Sunday, he had fled to Walnut Creek, a town a few miles south of Concord. While at the San Miguel Shopping Center, at the corner of Newell and Broadway, he approached a female and tried to take a photo up her skirt. As she reacted to his assault, at 1:22 that afternoon one of the people present recognized him, and called Walnut Creek police.
Officers responded to the scene, and found his Honda parked in the parking lot. He himself was not far away – they located him at the nearby intersection and, after a brief foot chase, took him into custody. He was arrested on multiple charges and booked into the Contra Costa County Jail, with a no-bail parole hold.
Anyone with further information about Beldin, or who may have witnessed him committing any further acts outside the spirit of his parole terms, may contact Concord PD Detective Josh Graham at 925-603-5864, or the Concord PD Tip Line at 925-603-5836.
