Carnival worker arrested for allegedly sexually assaulting children
Carnival worker arrested for alleged assaults
James Donnelly was arrested for allegedly sexually assaulting at least three children over the last seven years. Police said he was a carnival worker who traveled with carnivals to states across the region, and officers are looking for other potential victims.
SAN BERNARDINO, Calif. - San Bernardino Police arrested a carnival worker this week for allegedly assaulting multiple children over the last seven years.
James Donnelly was arrested at a Southern California fairground while setting up for a New Year's celebration, according to the San Bernardino Police Department.
According to police, investigators started looking into reports of Donnelly's alleged assaults back in October, when a victim reported that they'd been assaulted. During their investigation, officers said they discovered two more victims — a male and female — who'd reported Donnelly had assaulted them.
SUGGESTED: Woman sexually assaulted by homeless man in broad daylight on Long Beach sidewalk
Police said the victims were about 10 years old when the sexual abuse began.
Investigators said that through his travels as a carnival worker, Donnelly met women who lived nearby and stayed with them. Using these relationships, police said, allowed Donnelly access to the children.
Police said Donnelly had worked for traveling carnivals for the past three decades, traveling in California, Wyoming, Idaho, Montana, Utah and Colorado. Because of Donnelly's travels across the region, San Bernardino investigators are searching for other potential victims. Anyone with information about such crimes is asked to contact investigators at madrigal_ap@sbcity.org or 909-384-5631.