HOLLISTER, Calif -- One Central Coast mother says her daughter's abuser got the chance to flee before being sentenced.
This mother said there is a huge flaw in the judicial system for suspected sex offenders.
Right now the San Benito County District Attorney's Office said 52-year-old Arnoldo Hernandez is wanted for failing to appear in court.
The victim's family we spoke with said this would have never happened if he was supervised before he was sentenced. "You don't know what else he's capable of," said the victim's mother who asked to remain anonymous.
The San Benito County District Attorney's Office said Hernandez pleaded no contest to lude and lucivious acts with a child under 14 - a felony - last month, but before he could be sentenced on March 14th, he skipped town.
Hernandez was facing a possible 8 year prison term. "He pleaded to a felony charge with the possibility of prison and there was no recommendation for some sort of bail," said the mother.
The victim's mother said now her home is surrounded by cameras because she is so scared of Hernandez. Hernandez's public defender Greg LaForge said it's not typical to hold a suspect before sentencing. LaForge said in his 24 years working in criminal law this has only happened 4 times and Hernandez was not seen as a flight risk and had made all his previous court appearances. "You also have financial considerations to take into consideration. I mean how many ankle bracelets does the county of our size have that are available to somebody pre-sentence," said LaForge.
The victim's mother said with a crime like this, that chance should never be taken. "You're going back and remembering that he never spent one night in jail because he had the resources to escape and now your fears come true that he may never spend one night in jail," she said.
Right now there is a no bail arrest warrant out for Hernandez's arrest. If anyone has information on where he may be call Hollister police at 1-800-78-CRIME.
