Steff Posted December 9, 2004 Share Posted December 9, 2004 SAN FRANCISCO 'A parent's worst nightmare' 9-year-old girl sexually assaulted in her bedroom Jaxon Van Derbeken, Chronicle Staff Writer Thursday, December 9, 2004 Printable Version Email This Article A convicted sex offender broke into a San Francisco home in the Ingleside district and raped a 9-year-old girl in her bedroom in an hourlong attack that ended when the girl's mother walked into the room, San Francisco police said. The man, police say, fled on foot and was chased by the girl's father, who at one point struck him with a 2-by-4. The man continued fleeing through several backyards and was captured by police and identified as Roberto Gamero, 36, of San Francisco, police said. "It's a parent's worst nightmare,'' said San Francisco police Deputy Chief Morris Tabak of Sunday's attack. "It's pretty horrific. All of us who are parents, it sends chills up your spine.'' Gamero, a prior sex offender who was on probation for an earlier domestic violence case in San Mateo County, now faces charges of aggravated sexual assault of a child, child molestation, false imprisonment and burglary stemming from the attack, which shocked veteran investigators. "This is truly a horrific crime,'' said Assistant District Attorney Linda Moore of the sex assault unit. "We're trying to protect the family at this point.'' Gamero is jailed on a probation hold and $1 million bail. He is scheduled to be arraigned today. If convicted of all charges, Gamero could face a sentence of 25 years to life, said Debbie Mesloh, spokeswoman for District Attorney Kamala Harris. It was 7:45 a.m. Sunday when the victim's mother heard noises and entered her daughter's room in the Silver Avenue home and found her child with the suspect, who was nude. He apparently entered an unlocked window of the home, police say. The victim later told police that she was awakened to find a stranger in her bed and recounted an ordeal that lasted an hour in which she was raped and forced to engage in sex acts. When she resisted his demands, he asked her if she wanted him to be "mean, '' which she understood to be a threat, authorities said. After he was discovered, the suspect ran from the home, carrying a backpack. He quickly dressed and was soon chased by the victim's father, authorities said. The suspect allegedly threw a rock at the child's father during a backyard confrontation, and threatened the father with a knife. The father then hit him with a 2-by-4 piece of lumber, police said. The suspect ran off, but eventually was captured by police in a backyard, hiding behind a shed and bush. He lashed out at the officers, but two Ingleside station officers grabbed him by the arms and handcuffed him. Police believe he may have been living in a crack house in the area. He was found to have a crack pipe on him at the time of his arrest. Authorities are checking to determine whether he had registered as a sex offender in San Francisco. Police say the man was not known by the victim or her family. "It's very isolated, from what we can tell,'' Tabak said. My God.. I can't even imagine what this poor little girl is going through. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Queen Prawn Posted December 9, 2004 Share Posted December 9, 2004 Poor kid. I hope they get her lots of therapy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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