Police say the 51-year-old is a registered sex offender accused of grabbing a student off a downtown street.
SAN JOSE, CA — A 51-year-old man accused of kidnapping and sexually assaulting a 15-year-old girl who was walking to school appeared in Santa Clara County Superior Court on Friday, two days after the attack was reported near downtown San Jose, authorities said.
Officials identified the suspect as Marlo Porter, a San Jose resident and registered sex offender. He was arrested within hours of the incident and booked into the county’s Main Jail on suspicion of kidnapping, committing lewd acts on a child and making criminal threats. The case is in its early stages, but prosecutors said the allegations could carry a lengthy prison sentence if proven. Investigators say camera footage and automated license plate reader hits helped them locate a vehicle tied to the assault, leading to the arrest.
Police say the encounter began around 10:40 a.m. Wednesday as the teen walked near South Third and East San Fernando streets. A police report says the girl stopped at a 7-Eleven for a drink, then kept walking when a man in a vehicle pulled alongside, offered drugs and grabbed her. The report says the driver forced her into the car despite her screams. He then drove to a Walgreens parking lot at South 17th and East Santa Clara streets and parked for several minutes. During that time, the report alleges, he fondled the teen and told her they should date, even giving a phone number. Afterward, the driver took her back toward her school and warned her not to tell anyone.
San Jose police said analysts at the department’s Real Time Intelligence Center reviewed public safety cameras and searched automated plate reader data to isolate a possible suspect vehicle. Patrol officers and the department’s air support unit found the car and detained the driver without incident later that day, according to police. “SJPD would like to commend the bravery of the victim who did report this incident,” Officer Tanya Hernandez said. “Thanks to her and to the quick work of our officers, detectives and analysts, we were able to quickly apprehend the suspect.” The teen was evaluated and is home safe, officials said. Detectives are still gathering physical evidence and interviewing witnesses; they have not released a full list of recovered items.
Court records and police statements say Porter has prior convictions that required him to register as a sex offender, including lewd acts against a child. He walked into court with a cane and sat beside a public defender as a judge reviewed the booking allegations. Mayor Matt Mahan, responding to the arrest, said the case highlights the risk posed by repeat offenders and called for stronger safeguards to prevent further harm. The city’s police department said it is examining whether there are additional victims and is reviewing older incidents for potential links. Officials have not stated whether the suspect and the student had any prior connection; police described him as a stranger.
The initial complaint lists kidnapping and lewd acts with a child among the allegations, with the possibility of added counts as lab results and digital evidence come in. Porter is being held without bail pending formal arraignment on the new charges, according to courtroom remarks Friday. A preliminary hearing is set for Feb. 24, when a judge will decide whether there is enough evidence to move the case to trial. Prosecutors said they expect to present video, license plate reader records and witness testimony at that stage. Detectives also plan additional interviews with school staff and nearby business employees to refine the minute-by-minute timeline.
Outside the courthouse, a small group of neighbors and parents watched as deputies escorted Porter out of the courtroom. “It’s frightening,” said San Jose resident Lisa Doyle, who lives a few blocks from the route students use. “We send our kids to school and expect them to be safe.” Nearby, passing cars rolled through the late-afternoon traffic on East Santa Clara Street while students filtered out from campus. In a brief statement, the high school said it is cooperating with police and supporting the student. A Walgreens employee, who declined to give a name, said officers visited the store Wednesday to review cameras in the parking lot.
As of Friday evening, Porter remained in custody, and investigators continued to review footage from the route between downtown and the Walgreens lot. Authorities said they will release more details as the case moves into formal charging next week and toward the Feb. 24 preliminary hearing date.
Author note: Last updated January 17, 2026.