Christopher Eduard, a 53-year-old man from Los Angeles, was arrested for the alleged sexual assault of a 9-year-old girl at an Orange County Public Library, according to an Irvine Police Department news release on Sunday.

The assault occurred on the evening of Mar. 21 at the Heritage Park Regional Branch library, located 14361 Yale Avenue, in Irvine.

Police said the suspect approached a 9-year-old victim, who was at the library with her mother, while she was in the children’s section.

Eduard engaged the victim by asking her to help him film a video. He then gave the victim his cell phone and held cue cards for her to read aloud. During the incident, Eduard exposed himself and assaulted the 9-year-old.

Irvine police detectives accessed surveillance video in the area and were able to locate a vehicle associated with the 53-year-old. After additional follow-up, detectives were able to identify Eduard and arrest him near his home in Los Angeles on Mar. 24.

During the execution of a search warrant, evidence was located linking him to the crime.

Officials believe Eduard may be responsible for other crimes. He is described as 5 foot 9 inches tall, 125 pounds with brown hair and eyes. He drives a green 2019 Kia Soul.

Robert Howard Claudio, 24, Anaheim Hills, an Anaheim Hills man, was convicted of sexually assaulting a 13-year old Tustin boy after he lured him inside a library bathroom on the afternoon of March 9, 2012. He was sentenced to 15 years to life in state prison and mandatory lifetime sex offender registration.

Your kids are not safe from molesters even at public libraries! They should never be left alone.

Anyone with information about this incident or the suspect’s connection to other incidents is urged to contact Detective Nate Ridlon at nridlon@cityofirvine.org.