Two people were arrested in Corcoran, California, after a man was found hiding in a teenager’s bedroom closet.
Officers received a report on Sunday, February 1, that a man identified as Noah Salinas was found hiding in a 13-year-old’s bedroom closet, according to KGET.
Police launched an investigation into the matter and learned that Salinas, 22, traveled to the teen’s home with the intention of having a sexual relationship with the minor. It is not clear where he traveled from.
Salinas’ car was searched amid the investigation, and police found two magazines that contained 9 mm ammunition in the vehicle, according to YourCentralValley.com.
Additionally, police learned that the teenager had received text messages from another man who has since been identified as Jair Hernandez Garcia. While the messages have not been publicly shared, police said that Garcia, 23, was soliciting the teen to have a sexual relationship with him.
Both Salinas and Garcia were arrested on solicitation of a minor charges and booked into the Kings County Jail, according to the outlet. Neither Salinas nor Garcia are actively listed on the Kings County inmate locator as of Wednesday, February 4, meaning they have likely been released on bail.
The Corcoran Police Department did not immediately respond to Luxury Handbag Shopping’s request for comment regarding the case.
It is not currently clear if Salinas and Garcia entered pleas or retained legal representation following their arrests. Additionally, it has not been shared if Salinas and Garcia knew each other prior to their arrests and if their crimes were in any way connected.
Police have also not shared how Salinas and Garcia first came into contact with the minor.
Those convicted of soliciting a minor in California will face stricter penalties after the state enacted Senate Bill 1414 (SB 1414) in September 2024, according to the Hedding Law Firm.
The legislation increased the soliciting of a minor offense from a misdemeanor to a felony, the law firm explained. Those who are found guilty of the charge can be sentenced to serve two, three or four years in prison, as well as be ordered to pay a fine of up to $25,000.
If the charge is the defendant’s second offense, they can be sentenced to serve an additional 16 months to three years in county jail.
Additionally, those who are convicted of the charge after January 2025 must be registered as sex offenders for a minimum of 10 years.
Those found guilty of a felony will have the charge included on their criminal records, which could impact their employment, housing and other opportunities in the future. The law firm added that anyone convicted of a felony will permanently lose their right to own or possess a firearm, even if the felony conviction is sealed in the future.
Similarly to being found guilty of a felony, having to register as a sex offender also has long-term implications. In California, people on the sex offender registry will likely face restrictions on where they can live and will be included in mandatory community notification laws.
