Riverside Transient Arrested for Sexual Assaulting Child in Library Bathroom

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RIVERSIDE – A 29-year-old Riverside transient was arrested for the sexual assault of a 6-year-old boy who was visiting the library last week.

The victim was visiting the SPC Jesus S. Duran Eastside Public Library, located at 4033 Chicago Avenue in the Eastside area of Riverside with his father and brother on Wednesday, July 18, 2018. At around 5:00 p.m. the boy excused himself and went to the restroom on his own. Library surveillance captured the small boy walking toward the restroom while the Hispanic man watched, got up from his seat, and also went into the restroom. Moments later, the suspect quickly left the library, on foot through a nearby shopping center. The boy told his father about the alleged sexual assault and he reported it to the library staff. Police responded to the scene and conducted and investigation and a search for the suspect.

Although they were unable to locate the suspect, authorities were able to identify the suspect as Juan Francisco Palacios, a registered sex offender who was previously convicted of possessing child pornography. Palacios was located and arrested at the main Riverside Public Library, located at 3581 Mission Inn Avenue, after library staff reported seeing the subject. When they arrived Palacios was arrested and taken to the police station to undergo an interview. At the conclusion of the interview, Palacios was booked into the Robert Presley Detention Center for Sexual Assault Against a Minor Under the Age of 10 and for Probation Violations.

If anyone has information regarding this investigation, please contact Detective Daniel Mercadefe at (951) 353-7120 or dmercadefe@riversideca.gov, or Detective Stacie Ontko at (951) 353-7121 or sontko@riversideca.gov.