REDWOOD CITY — A 26-year-old San Leandro man has been charged in the drugging and sexual assault of a then 14-year-old girl last summer in the Half Moon Bay area and authorities say there could be other potential victims.
Thomas Jerome Evans, has been charged with rape of a drugged victim, lewd acts with a child 10 years younger than himself, sex with a minor when the suspect is over 21 and the minor is under 16, oral copulation with a person under 16 and furnishing a minor with marijuana.
Authorities said the victim, who has since turned 15, is a family friend of the suspect.
The suspected assault happened last summer between late July and mid-August in Half Moon Bay, authorities said. Authorities said the two had gone to the beach to spend the day and after smoking marijuana with Evans, the girl passed out and was sexually assaulted.
After an extensive investigation, detectives obtained a $250,000 arrest warrant for Evans and took him into custody March 12 at Sacramento State University and booked him at the San Mateo County Jail. It was not immediately known if Evans was a student or an employee at the university.
Evans pleaded not guilty to the charges Monday and is scheduled for a preliminary hearing on April 9. He is being held in lieu of $200,000 bail.
In a news release, the sheriff’s office said it is looking for other potential victims of Evans in Sacramento, Hayward, San Leandro and other East Bay cities.
Anyone who has had contact with Evans or allowed him to be around their children or knows of other possible victims is asked to call San Mateo County Sheriff Detective Jose Velasquez at 650-363-4062 or at jvelasquez@smcgov.org or Sheriff’s Sgt. Joe Cang at 650-363-4008 or at jcang@smcgov.org.
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