Man accused of sexually assaulting 8-year-old girl

SAN FRANCISCO

San Francisco police arrested Pedro Hernandez, who allegedly assaulted the girl at Sanchez Elementary School in the Mission District around noon June 3, at a homeless shelter at St. Bruno's Catholic Church in San Bruno, police said today.

He was booked on suspicion of sexual assault and remains in custody.

Three others were also arrested Tuesday in connection with the alleged attack on the girl.

Marisol Lopez, Lorena Lopez and Jesus Hernandez were arrested on suspicion of harboring a fugitive and being an accessory to the crime after the fact, according to police. Their exact relationship to Pedro Hernandez has not been released.

An investigation by the Police Department's Fugitive Recovery Team led police to the homeless shelter. Police had issued a $2 million warrant for his arrest and began a statewide and international search.

According to police, Hernandez arrived at the school to bring lunch to the girl and a female school district employee saw him "being overly affectionate toward the victim" and became suspicious.

The same employee then caught Hernandez allegedly sexually assaulting the girl in a secluded stairwell area inside the school and Hernandez ran away, police said. The woman called police.

Hernandez allegedly assaulted the girl in the stairwell multiple times and the acts were recorded on a video surveillance camera, police said.

Hernandez has known the girl's family for several years and has lived with them on and off, according to police.

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