Los Gatos Weekly-Times

Bike trail assault suspect arrested

Two assaults linked to suspect in custody

By Shari Kaplan

Female bike trail users may have less to fear, thanks to San Jose police sexual assault investigator Juan Reyes, who said he has connected San Jose resident and registered sex offender Wesley Leroy James, 44, with two past assaults on local bike trails.

For months, Los Gatos, Campbell and San Jose police have been investigating a series of sexual assaults occurring on bike trails throughout the South Bay, particularly the Los Gatos Creek Trail. Victims usually reported being approaching from behind by a man--often on a bicycle--who would touch or grab them as they walked, jogged or biked along the trails.

During the course of the investigation, Reyes noted that Santa Clara police had arrested James on a charge of indecent exposure he allegedly committed while riding his bicycle on July 25; the description of James made Reyes think of some of the bike trail cases. Working together with LGPD Detective John Pernick, Reyes conducted follow-up interviews with the victims of two previous trail assaults--one on the Los Gatos Creek Trail and one in Almaden Valley.

Reyes later determined there was enough evidence to arrest James for the assaults. Campbell police are currently conducting investigations and follow-up interviews to determine if James is responsible for some assaults that occurred in Campbell. LGPD Sgt. Tricia Friedrich warned that James is not the only suspect in the Los Gatos Creek Trail cases, as there is another suspect whose physical description does not match James'.

On Sept. 4, the Santa Clara County District Attorney's Office filed one count of sexual battery against James, according to Deputy District Attorney Ray Mendoza, who added that more charges may be forthcoming, pending further investigations. As of Sept. 5, James was in custody at the Santa Clara County Jail and was awaiting arraignment.

Anyone with further information on any of the creek trail incidents may call Reyes at 277-4102, Pernick at 354-6825 or Campbell Police Detective Steve Hartje at 866-2708.