September 7, 2006

Dean Geistlinger Sr., in an old photo (above) and a recent photo (below)

San Jose Police seek victims of child molester

On March 14, 2006, the San Jose Police Department began investigating an allegation of prior child molestation by Dean Geistlinger Sr. The victim accused Geistlinger, now 59, of molesting her several years ago while she was participating in a sleepover with Geistlinger’s daughter at his home in San Jose. The investigation led to the identification of several additional women and a child who were allegedly victimized by Geistlinger between the late 1970s and as recently as 2005. These assaults occurred in San Jose, Lincoln, Neb. and Roseville, Calif.

Several of the victims expressed concerns about Geistlinger’s contact with their peers while they were growing up. They explained that in the 1970s and 1980s, Geistlinger would use alcohol and drugs to lure teens to his homes in San Jose and Lincoln, Neb. He allegedly used these parties to establish sexual relationships with teenaged girls.

On June 1, 2006, Geistlinger was arrested by Roseville police and charged with committing lewd and lascivious acts upon a child. Photographs were located in his possession that led detectives to believe that Geistlinger has recently had close personal contact with several other unidentified children.

Anyone with information on this case is urged to call Det. William Hoyt of the San Jose Police Department’s Sexual Assaults Investigation Unit at (408) 277-4102 or via e-mail at william.hoyt@sanjoseca.gov. Persons wishing to remain anonymous may call Crime Stoppers at (408) 947-STOP.