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Campbell--Police are still hunting for a TCI subcontractor wanted on charges of allegedly molesting a 10-year-old girl in her Campbell home last weekend.
Carlos Anariba, 26, arrived at the young girl's home at around 6 p.m. on Sept. 2 to install a cable line in her bedroom. With the girl's mother in another room, Anariba made inappropriate contact with the victim, according to Campbell police Sgt. Chris Milosovich.
After the alleged incident occurred, the girl told her mother, who immediately called Campbell police. Although Anariba had no criminal record with the Campbell Police Department, he was a registered sex offender with a prior record of indecent exposure and annoying or molesting children.
The suspect, who is described as Hispanic, 5-foot-6, 145 pounds with brown hair and eyes, is a resident of the Cambrian area of San Jose. According to Campbell police Chief Dave Gullo, Anariba fled the scene in one of two cars that have been linked to him: a 1987 Toyota pickup, California license plate number 2X08710; and a 1988 Toyota pickup, California license plate number 5Y78898. Anariba is wanted on a felony warrant with a $200,000 bail.
According to Andrew Johnson, executive director of communications at TCI, Anariba was an employee of B&H Communication, a subcontracting company based in Morro Bay that did work for TCI throughout Santa Clara Valley. It is not known how long Anariba was employed at B&H.
"All I have to say is that these [charges against Anariba] are just accusations," said Madonna Baron, who is president of B&H and also oversees the company's publicity and public relations. "I have no further comment."
When asked to verify if Anariba was a B&H employee, Baron replied with a "no comment," and hung up the phone.
Immediately following the alleged molestation, TCI suspended its contract with B&H.
"B&H either failed to conduct the background check or they didn't do it, which would explain how he [Anariba] slipped through the cracks," said Johnson, who also added that performing background checks is a standard clause written into each TCI contract. "Maybe they weren't as thorough."
As a result of the incident, Johnson is asking all subcontracting companies to provide ample documentation of their own employee background checks.
"If they are not doing background checks, they will be placed on probation until they assure us that everything has been checked out," Johnson said.
The nature of the alleged crime is particularly disturbing because many residents and business owners willingly allow strangers into their homes and places of work.
"We always caution our customers to not open their door," said Johnson, who also notes that all repairmen and installers--TCI and subcontractors--are always dressed in TCI uniforms. "If they have a question, they should have [the repairman] wait while they call to check on the legitimacy of the person. We understand customers want to be safe and secure in their house."
Chief Gullo says TCI has been "very cooperative" in this case, and the cable company says they will strengthen their efforts.
"We will do anything in our power to work with the [police] through this," Johnson said. "We will continue to help them in any way we can to bring the gentleman in for questioning. We deeply regret the alleged incident."
Anyone with information regarding Anariba's wherabouts is asked to call Campbell police Detective Kelly Bybee at (408) 866-2101.
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Police intensify search for suspect in molestation case
Genevieve Roja
Web extra to the September 16-22, 1999 issue of Metro.