Man Arrested for Alleged Sexual Assault of 9-Year-Old at Orange County Library
Above: Christopher Eduard | Irvine PD
A man has been arrested for the alleged sexual assault of a 9-year-old girl in Orange County, according to a press release by Irvine PD.
In the press release, police identified 53-year-old Christopher Eduard of Los Angeles as the suspect.
Police allege that Eduard assaulted the victim at the Orange County Public Library on Yale on the evening of March 21. The Los Angeles Times reports that the incident occurred at the Irvine Heritage Park Branch. Eduard was arrested a few days later after being identified as the suspect through surveillance video.
Police say the victim and her mother were at the library, and that the victim had been in the children’s section when Eduard allegedly approached her and asked her for help “filming a video.”
Eduard then gave the victim his phone and held cue cards for her to read aloud, and then allegedly exposed himself to and assaulted the girl, police said.
Detectives took over the investigation and obtained surveillance video from the area showing a vehicle associated with the suspect, described as a green 2019 Kia Soul. Soon after this, Eduard was identified as the suspect.
On March 24, detectives located and arrested Eduard near his home in Los Angeles. They also executed a search warrant at his home, and reportedly confiscated additional evidence linking him to the assault.
The investigation is ongoing, and police have kept additional details under wraps pending additional review of evidence. It was unclear at press time whether Eduard was still in custody or had retained counsel.
Detectives say they believe Eduard may be responsible for other crimes, and are encouraging anyone with information about this incident of Eduard’s connection to other potential incidents to contact Detective Nate Ridlon at nridlon@cityofirvine.org. Eduard is described as standing 5-foot-9, weighing 125 pounds, with brown hair and brown eyes.
