City Prosecutor Doug Haubert Files Case Stemming From Alleged Sexual Battery Of A Nine Year Old While Inside A Long Beach Business
(Sept. 24, 2014, 6:50 p.m.) -- Long Beach City Prosecutor Doug Haubert's office has filed a case containing some very disturbing allegations -- and at the defendant's arraignment, Superior Court Judge Daniel Lowenthal set some of the highest bail in recollection in a Long Beach misdemeanor case.
Hanif Habib Gereau, 41, of Long Beach stands accused of multiple counts stemming from an alleged sexual battery of a nine year old child inside a Long Beach business.
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Mr. Gereau denies the charges and a trial date will be set on Oct 30th. At his arraignment on Oct. 16, Judge Lowenthal increased the defendant's bail from $100,000 to $500,000 pending trial.
"This is the highest bail amount we have seen on a misdemeanor case in Long Beach," said City Prosecutor Haubert, whose office will try the case. "The allegations are very serious. The bail amount reflects the seriousness of the charges and the concern that he may be a flight risk."
The case will be tried before Superior Court Judge Halim Dhanidina.
The defendant faces an eight count criminal complaint: four counts of allegedly annoying or molesting a child under 18 (PC 647.6(a)(1)), three counts of sexual battery (complaint allegation: "did wilfully and unlawfully touch an intimate part of another...against the will and for the speicifc purpose of sexual arousal, gratification and sexual abuse" (PC 243.4(e)(1)) and one count of refusing to leave a store when asked by store management (PC 602.1(a)).
As in all criminal cases, the defendant is presumed innocent and the City Prosecutor has the burden of proving each element of the charges beyond a reasonable doubt. If convicted, Gereau could spend up to 6 years in County Jail.
City Prosecutor Haubert declined to give details of the case that may reveal the identity of the 9-year old victim.
