Crime & Safety
Rape Suspect May Have Tutored Local Teens
Police seek help from people who know Marc Allen Don.
Albany police are trying to determine whether a man charged earlier this month with statutory rape of a 15-year-old girl also spent time with other local youth, officials said Friday.
Police arrested Marc Allen Don, 28, of San Jose when they found him unsupervised with the girl on Aug. 3 at her Albany home, said Lt. Dan Adams.
It was the second time Don was questioned by Albany police, Adams said. Officer John Costenbader questioned Don on July 13 when he found him inside a car with the girl, Adams said.
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"The victim had given ID information to police that indicated she was older than she is," Adams said, but Costenbader remained suspicious. He took note of Don's vehicle and the girl's address, and kept watch during his regular patrols.
Costenbader saw Don's car at the teen's home on Aug. 3, Adams said, and called the girl's mother to find out what was going on. The mother was not home and said she did not know the man was with her daughter. The officer also spoke with Don and the girl before taking him into custody.
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"The officer saw Don's vehicle at her house and checked with her parents, and arrested him on the spot," Adams said. "This came about from some really good patrol work."
Don met the girl through the online chat site Tagged.com, where he claimed to be 18 years old, said Adams.
Don is charged with two felony counts of unlawful sex with a minor, also known as statutory rape, said Deputy District Attorney Teresa Drenick, of the Alameda County District Attorney's Office.
Don is free on $160,000 bail, said Adams.
Because Don and the girl communicated online, and because he told police he tutors youth, Adams said Albany police are asking the public's help to determine whether Don spent time with other local teens.
"We are looking for information on this case or any other cases that involve the suspect," he said. "He may have been tutoring, or offered to tutor, one or more local kids."
A pre-trial hearing for Don is set for Sept. 20 in Department 115 at the Wiley W. Manuel Courthouse, 661 Washington St., in Oakland.
Police ask anyone with information about Don to call the Albany Police Department at 510-525-7300. Callers should ask to speak with a detective.
