Marine Corps recruiter arrested, accused of sexually assaulting teenage girl

Marine Corps Sergeant Jorge Lara-Pedroza is accused of sexually assaulting a 17-year-old girl while at a recruiting center in California, local police said. (Sunnyvale Department of Public Safety)

A Marine Corps recruiter was arrested in California, accused of sexually assaulting a 17-year-old girl while she was at a recruitment center, local police said.

Sergeant Jorge Lara-Pedroza is facing sexual assault charges filed by the Sunnyvale Police Department. Marine Corps officials confirmed Thursday that Lara-Pedroza is an active-duty recruiter assigned to the Marine Corps Recruiting Station in San Francisco.

Lara-Pedroza and the girl met on Oct. 28 at the recruitment center, where he is accused of assaulting her, police investigators said.

The two first met last week at a recruitment event at the girls’ school, police said.

Lara-Pedroza was arrested on October 29 after the Sunnyvale Department of Public Safety was notified of the assault. He is charged with oral copulation, penetration with a foreign object and arranging to meet a minor with the intent to engage in sexual conduct, police said. He was booked into the Santa Clara County Jail.

A spokesperson for Recruiting Station San Francisco said the station is aware of Lara-Pendroza’s arrest.

“The Marine Corps takes all allegations of misconduct seriously and is cooperating fully with law enforcement authorities,” said Cpl. Israel Ballaro, spokesman for the recruiting station.