Police ask public’s help in molestation case

A Madera man has pleaded not guilty to sexually assaulting at least one child in Merced, but police are investigating whether there are additional victims.

Jesse Willis James, 31, pleaded not guilty to oral copulation with a child and attempted oral copulation. James entered his plea Nov. 14 before Judge Ronald W. Hansen in Merced Superior Court, according to court records.

If convicted, James faces a potential life prison sentence with the possibility of parole and would be required to register as a sex offender, the Merced County District Attorney’s Office confirmed.

The Merced Police Department on Wednesday issued a statement to the public asking anyone with information regarding James to contact Detective Joseph Henderson, the lead investigator in the case.

Police said they believe at least two boys were abused and are looking into the possibility of a third. All three alleged victims were younger than 8 and at least two were about 5 years old at the time of the reported abuse.

Some of the alleged abuse dates to 2011. Other alleged incidents occurred earlier this year in Madera, authorities said.

Merced police received the first report of abuse shortly before James was arrested Nov. 10, officers said.

“It does appear from the investigation that he targets prepubescent boys,” Henderson said. “He told the boy’s mother he could give her child therapy that would release endorphins and, basically, help her child settle down.”

Michael McKinney, the Merced County deputy district attorney prosecuting the case, said prosecutors are working with Madera authorities to determine whether both cases will be heard in Merced County.

Henderson said James was a friend of the alleged victims’ families. He said James works as a security guard at an apartment complex on the west side of Merced.

Henderson said that while the reported abuse was not connected to James’ work as a security guard, police want to make sure parents speak to their children as a precaution.

“If their children were ever told they could be given therapy and felt anything suspicious happened, we’d like them to give us a call,” Henderson said.

James remained in custody Wednesday at the John Latorraca Correctional Facility with bail set at $400,000. He is scheduled to appear in court again Monday for a preliminary hearing.

This story was originally published November 26, 2014 at 3:26 PM with the headline "Police ask public’s help in molestation case."