Suspect in SF Polo Field child sex assault case struggled with mental health issues: family

SAN FRANCISCO (KGO) -- The suspect in the sexual assault case of a minor at a bathroom in San Francisco's Golden Gate Park is facing multiple felony charges.

"Given the allegations at hand in this case and the charges, he is facing significant time including some life charges but again, this is very serious conduct that under the law is taken seriously as well," said San Francisco District Attorney Brooke Jenkins.

Here are the list of charges:

• Aggravated kidnapping (PC 209(b)(1)

• Committing forcible lewd acts upon a child (PC 288(b)(1)

• Assault with intent to commit a felony of a person under the age of 18 (PC 220(a)(2)

• Committing a lewd act upon a child (PC 288(a)

• Kidnapping (PC 207(a)

• False imprisonment (PC 236)

The DA confirmed the victim is a 13-year-old girl who was at the park for soccer practice.

"We are not talking about someone who attempted to remove the child from the Polo Fields in connection with this incident, but that kidnapping under the law requires movement of a substantial distance but that is not nearly incidental contact to your intent to commit another felony," said DA Jenkins.

People who frequent the park were glad an arrest had been made.

RELATED: 19-year-old suspect arrested for sexual assault of child in Golden Gate Park bathroom, SFPD says

"Should put him behind bars to keep the community safe," said John Hong, a San Francisco resident.

"It is definitely a traumatic experience to go through. The minor has already suffered something of this nature this incident. She will probably associate this area and soccer practice with this traumatic nature," said Jeremy Tran a San Francisco resident.

The suspect is a 19-year-old male. The DA said her team is going through photos and waiting on DNA evidence found on the girls' clothing to confirm a match.

"He has suffered a lot. He hasn't had a dad; he hasn't had a mom. He has no friends. He has nobody but the system didn't do what they had to do," said Elsa Buitrago, the suspect's grandmother.

TAKE ACTION: Get help with sexual assault, rape, and abuse

Buitrago was in court waiting for his arraignment. She said his parents abused drugs and he was abandoned by them when he was born. She adopted him when he was three years old and has advocated for him to get help.

"This child has schizophrenia, he has mental developmental delay, some mild autism, ADHS, depression, anxiety. We have to see also that I know that little boy, if he did it - which I know he didn't - he was not in his right mind," said Buitrago. "They are treating him like a criminal. My son is not a criminal. He is a very sick child, and it should be taken into consideration. I know because I have raised him."

The District Attorney asked the judge for the suspect to be detained without the ability to post bail and said described him as a threat to public safety.

The suspect was not arraigned on Tuesday because there was not a public defender available to take his case. He is set to be arraigned on Wednesday at 10 a.m.