Marine arrested in connection with sexual assault at Sunnyvale recruiting center

SUNNYVALE – Authorities on Tuesday arrested an active-duty Marine Corps recruiter on suspicion of sexually assaulting a teenage girl at a recruiting center in Sunnyvale.

The suspect – identified as Jorge Lara-Pedroza – met the 17-year-old victim at a recruiting event at her school roughly a week ago, the Sunnyvale Department of Public Safety said in a news release Wednesday.

On Monday, the victim met the suspect at a Marine Corps recruiting center, located at 1322 South Mary Ave., to learn more about the military branch, according to authorities.

“During the meeting,” authorities said, “the suspect sexually assaulted the victim.”

Following his arrest Tuesday, the suspect was booked into Santa Clara County jail on charges including oral copulation, penetration with a foreign object and arranging to meet a minor with intent to engage in sexual conduct, according to authorities.

The case remains under investigation.

Anyone with information related to the case can contact Detective C. Bishop at 408-730-7110.

Check back for updates.