Days after early release from jail, sex offender arrested for exposing self, CA cops say

A high-risk registered sex offender exposed himself to parole officials days after he was released from a California jail, Santa Ana police say.

Rudy William Grajeda Magdaleno, 39, was released from the Orange County Jail on April 13 with a GPS monitor, police said in a news release. He had served 71 days of a 180-day minimum sentence, according to the news release from police.

Magdaleno was released along with six other registered sex offenders in an effort to reduce jail populations during the coronavirus pandemic, according to the Orange County District Attorney.

Santa Ana police were called to a parole resource center four days after Magdaleno’s release after he allegedly exposed himself to staff members there, police said. Magdaleno ran from the scene before police arrived, but a parole warrant was issued for his arrest April 20.

“The arrest of this dangerous sex offender just days after he walked out of jail demonstrates the Court’s grave error in releasing him and six other high-risk sex offenders early,” Santa Ana Mayor Miguel A. Pulido said in the news release. “These ill-conceived decisions risk the safety of the Santa Ana community.”

He was arrested again on April 30, and investigators are seeking additional charges along with the indecent exposure, police said. He is being held without bail.

Magdaleno has been convicted of indecent exposure in two prior cases, police said.

In January 2019, Magdaleno was arrested after breaking into a home while naked from the waist down, police said. He allegedly was peeking into an 11-year-old girl’s room “while covering his penis with his hand,” police said.

In May 2018, Magdaleno sat on the floor of a law office and masturbated while staring at a female worker, according to police.

He was also arrested and convicted of abuse of a dependent adult from a 2010 incident where Magdaleno reportedly “attacked a 41-year-old mentally disabled person at a restaurant located in Santa Ana,” police said.

“On behalf of our Santa Ana community and all my officers that work diligently to help keep our City safe, I find it extremely troubling that this high risk sex offender was authorized for release, in spite of his significant documented criminal history,” Santa Ana Police Chief David Valentin said in the news release. “This high-risk offender has a track record of victimizing innocent people, without impunity.”

This story was originally published May 2, 2020 at 4:47 PM with the headline "Days after early release from jail, sex offender arrested for exposing self, CA cops say."