Los Gatos bakery owner arrested on suspicion of groping customers

Police say suspect befriended victims under pretense of offering bread-making lessons

LOS GATOS – The owner of Mama’s Bakery in Los Gatos has been arrested on suspicion of inappropriately touching female customers during bread-making lessons, police said.

The Los Gatos-Monte Sereno Police Department opened an investigation in March after receiving a report of a sexual assault at the bakery, located at 473 North Santa Cruz Ave., the agency said in a news release.

Detectives determined the suspect befriended female customers under the pretense of offering bread-making lessons at the bakery. Police did not disclose the number of victims.

“During these lessons, the owner would inappropriately touch and fondle the female victims against their will,” police said.

On Wednesday, detectives arrested the suspect without incident at the bakery and booked him into the Santa Clara County Main Jail in San Jose on charges of sexual battery of an unrestrained person, sexual battery of a restrained person and false imprisonment.

Mama’s Bakery was highlighted in a report published by this news organization in August 2010. At the time, the bakery served walk-in customers but the majority of its business came from wholesale distribution to other retail stores. It was also popular within the area’s Jewish community.

The case remains under investigation and detectives believe there may be additional victims, police said. Anyone with information can contact the police department at 408-354-8600.

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