The Pleasanton Police Department has successfully identified and arrested 26-year-old Livermore resident Jesus Castro-Leon for sexual battery and invasion of privacy, thanks to the collaboration of community members and the courage of the victim.
Lieutenant Erik Silacci expressed gratitude to the community, stating, "This is a sensitive case, and we thank the community for their responsiveness in helping identify the suspect. More importantly, we commend the woman who courageously reported her frightening encounter, which resulted in the suspect’s arrest. We are continuing to investigate to ensure that Castro-Leon is held responsible for his crimes."
The incident occurred on December 1, 2023, when Castro-Leon followed a woman into the bathroom of a Pleasanton grocery store, inappropriately recording her with his cellphone, police said. The victim, after attempting to defend herself, sought help nearby and promptly filed a report with the Pleasanton Police Department.
During the subsequent investigation, the police department sought assistance from the public to identify the suspect based on limited security camera footage, which was posted on social media, police said. The immediate response from the public led to a positive identification of Castro-Leon.
On January 4, 2024, Castro-Leon voluntarily visited the police department inquiring about the social media post, leading to his arrest for interfering with a police investigation, police said. His cellphone was seized, and upon examination, Pleasanton detectives discovered over 250 videos of him recording women without their consent, investigators added.
Several recordings seem to have taken place in the Tri-Valley area. Victims are encouraged to come forward and contact their local police department to file a report if they believe they were targeted by Castro-Leon.
