California Man Asks 9-Year-Old Girl To Record Video, Sexually Assaults Her In Public Library: Cops

A California man has been arrested after allegedly sexually assaulting a 9-year-old girl at an Orange County Public Library, according to authorities.

During the evening of March 21, authorities said the 9-year-old victim and her mother were at a public library in Irvine, according to a press release from the Irvine Police Department.

The victim was in the children’s section when the suspect, later identified as 53-year-old Christopher Eduard, approached the girl, police said.

Eduard engaged with the victim by asking if she could help him film a video. He then gave the victim his cell phone while he held some cue cards for her to read aloud, officials said.

While this was going on, police say Eduard exposed himself and assaulted the 9-year-old girl.

Investigators started looking over surveillance video in the area and found a vehicle, a green, 2019 Kia Soul, that was associated with the suspect.

As detectives dug deeper into the investigation, they linked the vehicle to Eduard and on March 24, he was arrested near his home in Los Angeles, police said.

Police obtained a search warrant and were able to obtain evidence from Eduard linking him to the crime, officials said.

Eduard was arrested and charged with child molestation, production of child pornography and false imprisonment of a minor during the production of child pornography.

He was booked into jail and released on bond on March 25, police said.

Never miss a story — sign up for the Front Page Detectives newsletter. Be on the scene the moment news breaks.

Investigators believe Eduard may be responsible for other crimes. IPD Lt. Bill Bingham told KABC-TV, "There's a great distance between Los Angeles where he lives and Irvine and we are concerned that he may have engaged in this behavior with other victims who may not have reported it to police."

If you have any information, you are urged to contact the Irvine Police Department or email Det. Nate Ridlon at nridlon@cityofirvine.org.