Police: Man accused of child molestation at Salinas Walmart turned himself in

A 35-year-old man in connection with kidnapping and molestation of a 10-year-old girl turned himself in Saturday.

The Salinas Police Department said Jorge Cervantes turned himself in at the front lobby of the police department at 8 a.m. He was questioned then transported to the Monterey County Jail with bail set at $1 million.

Just before 5 p.m. Friday at a Walmart on the 1800 block of North Main Street, Cervantes posed as a Walmart employee and approached a 10-year-old, who had separated from her family, and offered her help, police said.

They said he attempted to lure her out of the store but when he noticed the doors were locked, Cervantes led her to the bathrooms. Police believe this is where she was initially assaulted.

Cervantes took the victim from the bathroom and assaulted her in one of the store aisles before she was able to run away from him and seek help, police said.

Police said Cervantes ran away but turned himself in Saturday morning.