Atherton man arrested for child molestation Atherton man arrested for child molestation (December 29, 2004)

An Atherton man was arrested last week on charges of sexual molestation of a 15-year-old Santa Clara County girl. The two met months ago on a Santa Cruz area beach and had used Internet instant messaging to maintain contact, said Atherton Police Chief Bob Brennan.

Atherton police arrested Eric Robert Gray, 25, at his converted-garage apartment on Shearer Drive on Tuesday, December 21, police said. Mr. Gray is charged with oral copulation with and digital penetration of a juvenile under 16.

The charges stem from a meeting between the two a couple of weeks ago, after Mr. Gray had suggested a get-together, police said. Mr. Gray picked her up and drove her to his residence, invited her to a movie, sexually assaulted her, then drove her home and told her to keep their affair a secret, police said.
INFORMATION

About 30 million kids younger than 18 use the Internet, according to the Pew Internet and American Life Project. The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children reported in 1999 that 20 percent of kids ages 10 to 17 received online sexual solicitations. For more information, go to netsmartz.org.

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