Man Held on Suspicion of Molesting Children

A man who allegedly attempted to abduct two young boys from a Sunland Kmart store has been arrested on suspicion of more than a dozen counts of child molestation, Los Angeles police detectives said Friday.

John Saghanejad, who is being held in lieu of $1.7 million bail at the Van Nuys jail, could be charged with multiple felony counts as early as Monday, authorities said.

The charges could include one count of kidnapping for the purpose of sex, three counts of lewd acts with a child using force and nine counts of lewd acts with a child younger than 14.

The unemployed Tujunga man is suspected in a series of incidents beginning in August when a child reported he was molested after being forced into the restroom of a public library, said Det. Del Baker of the Los Angeles Police Department’s Foothill Division.

Police said Saghanejad also allegedly tried to fondle and abduct boys he encountered in the video game section of a Kmart on Foothill Boulevard in October and earlier this month.

“Obviously, where the kids were hanging out, that’s where he was going,” Baker said. “The kids were alone, there were no parents or guardians around.”

Saghanejad was arrested shortly before 11 p.m. Thursday at an apartment complex in Tujunga after a resident recognized the suspect in a store security video broadcast during television news reports.

“It shows the standard [conduct] we see in molesters,” Baker said. “They seek children who are alone and unsuspecting, and prey on them.” According to LAPD detectives, Saghanejad has no previous criminal arrest record.

Parents who suspect their child may have been molested may call (818) 756-8863.