Peninsula Man Accused Of Molesting Daughter's Friends At Sleepovers

PESCADERO (CBS SF) -- A Pescadero man pleaded not guilty on Monday to 17 counts of lewd acts with a child for molesting young friends of his daughter during sleepovers in 2011 and 2012, prosecutors said Tuesday.

Daniel Miranda, 69, also allegedly molested a neighbor in 2002 and 2003, according to the San Mateo County District Attorney's Office. In total, an investigation by the sheriff's office concluded he had molested five girls since 1999, but they suspect more may come forward.

Miranda first came to the attention of the sheriff's office in 2014, when San Mateo County Children and Family Services officials alerted investigators to a young friend of Miranda's daughter who said she had been molested during sleepovers at his home.

But the sheriff's office couldn't find enough evidence to charge him and the case languished until last month when a second victim came forward. She said she also was molested during sleepovers at Miranda's house in 2011 and 2012, according to prosecutors.

Investigators found three more victims, including a former resident on Miranda's property who said she had been molested in 2002 and 2003.

The sheriff's office served a search warrant at Miranda's home on Wednesday and Miranda, accompanied by his lawyer, turned himself in later that day. He was booked into jail on $6.4 million bail.

Miranda is a retired San Francisco Municipal Railway operator.  Sheriff's Detective Sal Zuno said Tuesday that his employment appears to be unrelated to the offenses.

Appearing in court on Monday, Miranda pleaded not guilty to 17 counts of child molestation. Judge Susan Jakubowski denied a motion to lower his bail and he remains in custody, prosecutors said.

He was scheduled to return to court on Sept. 13.

Sheriff's officials think more victims may not have come forward yet and are asking anyone with information about the case to call Detective Joe Cang at (650) 259-2417 or to email him at jcang@smcgov.org.