A man who police said committed sexual assaults on at least two occasions near the downtown Palo Alto Transit Center earlier this month was arrested Friday after he turned himself in.
George Moubarak, a 26-year-old South San Francisco resident, is facing two felony charges of sexual assault for incidents that occurred on March 1 and March 8 in downtown Palo Alto. In the March 1 incident, a woman reported that a man approached her at a Marguerite bus kiosk, began talking to her and sexually assaulted her. She ultimately fought off the man and he ran away, according to the San Mateo County Sheriff's Office.
A week later, the Palo Alto Police Department received a call about an incident that occurred in the 200 block of Alma Street. A woman in her 20s reportedly was walking north on Alma after getting off the bus when a man ran up to her from behind and grabbed her crotch over her clothing. She screamed and the man ran away, police said.
Neither woman was injured, according to the police.
The break in both cases came by way of a surveillance photo, which showed the man a few minutes after the March 8 incident. After finding the footage, Palo Alto police released it to the public as part of their investigation.
On Friday, Moubarak turned himself in to the Palo Alto Police Department after seeing his picture on the news and on social media, according to the Sheriff's Office, which investigated the assaults in collaboration with the Palo Alto Police Department. The investigation revealed that Moubarak was involved in both the March 1 and March 8 sexual assaults, said Detective Salvador Zuno, spokesman for the Sheriff's Office.
Moubarak was booked in the Santa Clara County Jail where he faces felony charges for the two incidents. The Palo Alto Police Department will be submitting its own separate case for the March 8 incident to the District Attorney's Office, according to the announcement from the Sheriff's Office.
The case is still under investigation and the Sheriff's Office is asking anyone with information to call Detective Mike Baron at 650-622-8053 or email him at Mbaron@smcgov.org. Those who wish to remain anonymous, can call the Sheriff’s Office Anonymous Tip Line at 800-547-2700.
Comments
Duveneck/St. Francis
on Mar 14, 2017 at 5:02 pm
on Mar 14, 2017 at 5:02 pm
Glad the guy is behind bars - fear it's temporary. I hope the prosecutors don't slip up in some minor extent - then he'll be right out again and likely back here, apparently.
Sorry to sound cynical: we all know Gov. Brown's policies relaxing penalties on theft, etc. have led to a huge increase in risk for all of us regular folks in California. I also believe brazen criminals such as this alleged one, are operating with increased fearlessness, typically.
Wonder what Palo Alto does to attract such types to our transit hub? There must be something to attract these criminals....
I suggest pondering this a bit. Government policy, attitudes, handouts? Other transit locations don't seem to suffer the level of "challenge" that Palo Alto has -- derelict persons coming here to "lodge" in the historic Post Office, etc.
Downtown North
on Mar 14, 2017 at 10:40 pm
on Mar 14, 2017 at 10:40 pm
[Portion removed.]
Surveillance cameras don't prevent crimes, but they sure making catching the perps easier.
Stanford
on Mar 14, 2017 at 11:10 pm
on Mar 14, 2017 at 11:10 pm
This guy is a Stanford Hospital employee. He works in the Cafeteria and has contact with customers and patients. He takes the Margerite Shuttle to the Palo Alto Caltrain station five nights a week. When I would go to the cafeteria or see him on the shuttle, I avoided him- he was always leering while looking high as a kite with blood shot eyes. He could be mistaken for homeless because he always looked grimy and dirty.
Registered user
Atherton
on Mar 15, 2017 at 10:31 am
Registered user
on Mar 15, 2017 at 10:31 am
"Governor Brown relaxed penalties for theft, etc." ?? Maybe I missed that day in my high school civics class but wouldn't such a change have to come from the legislature or through a ballot initiative?
Registered user
Midtown
on Mar 15, 2017 at 1:50 pm
Registered user
on Mar 15, 2017 at 1:50 pm
I'm wondering what caused this "likely soon to be a felon" to turn himself in after committing such brazen attacks. Guilty conscience, a plea for leniency after having his photo published, recognition by those who knew him advising him to turn himself in?
This is not just some petty theft but rather a blatant personal violation of the most heinous kind especially considering the late night tie of occurrence and the profiles of the victims (to whom my heart sincerely goes out to). Agree that blaming our governor seems unfair.
The comment above about him being "an Uber driver" sort of reeks of racial profiling, and insults the many honest drivers out there - and appears to be unsubstantiated.
If he is a Stanford employee, I would think that Stanford should make a PR announcement to that effect - for their own legal liability protection, and as a prominent community member shedding some light on this.
Registered user
Midtown
on Mar 16, 2017 at 12:47 am
Registered user
on Mar 16, 2017 at 12:47 am
Don't know whether cafeteria workers etc are really Stanford employees or technically temps from some agency to some subcontractor of some other contractor twice removed.
Blaming a governor only applies when he has placard on his desk that says "The Buck Stops Here".