MENIFEE: Registered sex offender arrested after allegedly molesting child, 7

MENIFEE — A retired piano teacher who continued tutoring and teaching piano for more than 20 years after he was convicted for committing lewd and lascivious acts with a child under the age of 14 was arrested again earlier today. Today’s charges involving a 7-year-old child that landed him back in jail are similar to those that led to his 1983 conviction and becoming a registered sex offender.

SEE SIMILAR: FRENCH VALLEY: 44 charges involving 2 victims after sex offender arrested today

William Hammond, 70, of Menifee was arrested earlier today after he allegedly molested a 7-year-old in Temecula. RSO booking photo

Following a thorough investigation that began Feb. 17, deputies from the Riverside County Sheriff’s Temecula Police Station arrested 70-year-old, William Hammond, Riverside Sheriff’s Sergeant Collazo explained after the early-morning arrest.

He was later booked into Cois Byrd Detention Center on suspicion of three counts of committing lewd and lascivious acts with a child under the age of 14. He was also booked for being a prior habitual criminal.

The multiple incidents that led to Hammond’s arrest this morning reportedly happened at a residence on the 44000 block of Cabo Street in Temecula; however, officials have not specified how Hammond reportedly knew or gained access to the young victim.

According to jail records, Hammond was arrested minutes after 6 a.m., in the area of Chambers Avenue and Murrieta Road in Menifee, about a half-mile from his home at 26448 Mehaffey Street, northwest of Chambers Avenue and Sun City Boulevard.

Investigators later served a search warrant at Hammond’s home. Officials did not specify what they were looking for or if any evidence was located or recovered during the service of the search warrant.

According to Collazo, Hammond continued working as a self-employed piano teacher until he retired in 2015.

Hammond remains in custody, held on $1 million bail and he is scheduled to be arraigned at Southwest Justice Center in Murrieta, Mar. 1.

Anyone with information regarding this investigation is encouraged to contact Investigator Schell at the Temecula Police Station (951) 696-3000 or Riverside County Sheriff’s Department Dispatch (951) 776-1099. Callers can refer to incident file number TE180480150 and can remain anonymous. Citizens may also submit a tip using the Sheriff’s CrimeTips online form.

Contact the writer: [email protected]

Trevor Montgomery, who recently moved from Riverside County to Shasta County, runs Riverside County News Source and Shasta County News Source. Additionally, he writes for Riverside County based newspapers Valley News, The Valley Chronicle and Anza Valley Outlook as well as Bonsall/Fallbrook Village News in San Diego County.

Trevor spent 10 years in the U.S. Army as an Orthopedic Specialist before joining the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department in 1998. He was medically retired after losing his leg, breaking his back and suffering both spinal cord and brain injuries in an off-duty accident.

During his time with the sheriff’s department, Trevor worked at several different stations, including Robert Presley Detention Center, Southwest Station in Temecula, Hemet/Valle Vista Station, Ben Clark Public Safety Training Center and Lake Elsinore Station, along with other locations.