The L.A. County District Attorney’s Office filed charges against a Valencia man Wednesday of indecent exposure and sexual battery over allegations from an incident at Whole Foods Market.
Prosecutors filed four misdemeanors against Jared Paul Estrada, 28, related to a March 23 incident at the Valencia grocery store.
The complaint, which was obtained by The Signal from the DA’s Office, listed two misdemeanor charges for each offense — exposure and battery — which were connected to the same alleged victim in the March 23 incident.
“The case was filed today,” according to an email Wednesday by Venusse Dunn, spokeswoman for the DA’s Office. “Arraignment is scheduled May 11 in Department 2 of the Santa Clarita Courthouse.”
The alleged victim, who is identified in the criminal complaint by her first name, shared details from her encounter at Whole Foods, which was spread over social media through screenshots, following the incident.
Her statements echoed the detective’s report in a search-warrant affidavit that the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s Station filed one week after the victim’s initial report.
“The suspect followed her throughout various aisles of the store. While the victim was crouching down in an aisle deciding which product to buy, the suspect stood over her at proximity with his exposed penis out of his pants,” according to the detective’s statement. “The suspect had his cell phone in one hand and he appeared to be recording himself placing his penis near the victim’s face as seen on store surveillance footage and per the victim’s statement.”
In response to the deputy’s initial report, a detective put out a Nixle alert with a screenshot of the man’s face, which was obtained from Whole Foods’ store officials.
“Several members of the public called in stating they recognized the suspect from the flier as ‘Jared Estrada,’” wrote Detective Roxanne Hatami, who’s leading the investigation for the station’s Detective Bureau. “Several citizens provided his date of birth, phone number, vehicle information … and general information as to where he lived,” identifying his residence as near a local elementary school.
Estrada was arrested April 20 and then released hours later on $100,000 bail.
