Half Moon Bay Man Arrested in Suspicion of Statutory Rape

A Half Moon Bay man was arrested Sunday in suspicion of having sexual relationship with a teenage girl, the San Mateo Sheriff’s Department reported Monday.

Jose Arroyo Molina, 25, was arrested at 9 p.m. in a residential area in Hayward, Det. Salvador Zuno said. Molina was waiting for the victim inside the home on Whitman Street.

Prior to the arrest, authorities say Molina befriended 15-year-old on Facebook, met and had sex with the girl near Highway 92 and Skyline in unincorporated San Mateo County.

Sheriff’s detectives learned the suspect was arranging to meet with the victim in Hayward and contacted the Hayward Police Department. Hayward police then responded to Whitman St, located and detained the suspect until San Mateo sheriff’s detectives arrived and placed Molina under arrest, according to the San Mateo Sheriff’s Department.

Molina was transported, booked into the Maguire Correctional Facility Lewd and charged with performing lewd acts with child, possession of obscene material involving minor. He is currently in custody on $100,000 bail.

Authorities did not release the name of the victim.

The sheriff’s department is looking for any other persons affected by this suspect and encourages anyone with information regarding this case to contact Detective Joe Cang at (650) 259-2417 or via email at jcang@smcgov.org.

Those who wish to remain anonymous are encouraged to call the Anonymous Tip Line at (800) 547-2700.