by Jim Emerson
DANVILLE — Police arrested a man for allegedly dropping lewd photographs of himself in
front of children in Danville. James E. Maldonado, 38, of Castro Valley, was taken into custody
on September 11 as part of an ongoing investigation.
Maldonado was arrested shortly after a 16-year-old girl phoned Danville police. She reported
recognizing a man on Railroad Avenue, whom she believed was responsible for a lewd
encounter that she experienced.
The report from the girl became a major break in an ongoing investigation. Responding
officers located a man matching the description provided by the girl, and detained him without
incident. He was subsequently identified as a suspect long sought by police.
Since January 2025, Danville police have worked to identify a suspect believed responsible
for a series of lewd incidents intentionally targeting children. “Investigators were able to
connect the suspect to previous reports,” Danville police said in a prepared report.
Maldonado was booked at the Martinez Detention Facility on suspicion of felony-level
exhibition of lewd material to a minor. He was also booked for a misdemeanor—annoying or
molesting a child. Court and jail records indicate Maldonado was released from custody the
morning after his booking.
The investigation of Maldonado remains active, and no charges have been filed against him
as of mid-September. Anyone with information related to this investigation can contact
Danville investigators at 925-314-3700.
