Man Photographing Underage Girls Near Mall Arrested In Marin County: Police

SAN RAFAEL, CA — A San Rafael man who was investigated after reports that he was photographing underage girls near Northgate One was arrested Wednesday after detectives found a large quantity of child sexual abuse material on his cellphone, police said.

Officers responded to the shopping center on June 12 after receiving reports that a man was taking photos of underage girls, according to the San Rafael Police Department.

Police said they contacted the man, identified as John Jeremiah Hernandez, 25, of San Rafael, and seized his cellphone as evidence pending further investigation.

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Detectives later obtained a search warrant for the device and, during a forensic examination, found a large quantity of child sexual abuse material, police said.

Hernandez was arrested Wednesday at his San Rafael home and booked into the Marin County Jail.

Police said the investigation remains ongoing and no additional information has been released.

Anyone with information related to the case is asked to contact the San Rafael Police Department at 415-485-3000 or submit a tip online at srpd.org/tips.