Los Gatos man charged with molesting family friends
Tile setter held on $500,000 bail
Family alerts police
By Gloria I. Wang
A longtime Los Gatos resident was recently arrested on several counts of child molestation.
Joseph Douglas Wagner, 48, was arrested by three members of the Los Gatos-Monte Sereno Police Department on July 20. Police located Wagner on Los Gatos Boulevard and Stacia Street as he was riding his bicycle and arrested him at 2:30 p.m.
Wagner is charged with two counts of lewd and lascivious acts on a child--on someone under 14 years old--and two counts of prohibited acts on a minor-someone under the age of 18.
According to Detective Randy Bishop, the primary investigator in the case, family members notified the police about Wagner because they were concerned. "This came about because he was viewing inappropriate material online involving minors," Bishop said.
Bishop began his investigation on July 14 and discovered additional information that led to Wagner's charges. The two alleged victims are friends of Wagner's family. It is not known if the alleged victims are residents of Los Gatos.
After Wagner's arrest, Bishop obtained a search warrant of the suspect's home. Police seized several computers, computer equipment and other documents.
Wagner, who goes by the first name Jack, was raised in Los Gatos, Bishop said. He works as a tile layer and is married with two children.
Police arrested Wagner on a $1 million warrant, but the bail was reduced to $500,000. An arraignment hearing was scheduled for July 26. Wagner is still in custody at the Santa Clara County Jail and has not posted bail.
Los Gatos, California Since 1881
