Registered sex offender accused of peeping through window of girl's room in Lindsay

TULARE COUNTY, Calif. (KFSN) -- A registered sex offender is back in custody, accused of peeping in the window of a teenage girl's room in Lindsay.

Police were called to an apartment complex on Elmwood Avenue off of Tulare Road at about 2:30 am Wednesday.

The teen and her mother told officers they spotted a man looking through the window while the teen was changing.

They also reported hearing sounds as if the suspect was trying to force the window open.

Officers on the scene say they saw 37-year-old Jose Magana Ibarra walking away from the apartment complex.

They found shoe prints outside of the victim's window, matching Ibarra's shoes.

Fingerprints and fresh pry marks were also found on the window.

Ibarra was taken into custody for attempted burglary.

The suspect has had at least three previous run-ins with Lindsay police.

They each involve peeking through a window where a victim is changing.

In 2017, DNA evidence matched him to one scene.

In 2021, he was also found guilty and charged with a misdemeanor.

During two of the incidents, he actually reached into the window and either touched the victim or took property.

"It's not something that is frequent in the city of Lindsay, but it's obviously concerning for parents and residents nearby," says Sergeant Chris Dempsie with the Lindsay Police Department.

The department says they do compliance checks more often than required by the state of California.

Once before the school year starts and around Halloween time- reminding sex offenders of their terms.

"He (Ibarra) is a registered sex offender, so we frequently do compliance checks to make sure he is still in compliance, and we do everything we can to minimize or eliminate this," says Sgt. Dempsie.

Lindsay police say Ibarra's priors could enhance the sentencing for this incident.

As of Thursday afternoon, Ibarra remains in custody at the South County Detention facility and has a court appearance on Friday.

The district attorney's office is currently reviewing the case.

Lindsay police want to remind its residents to stay vigilant, and if they see something, say something.

They are just a phone call away and can be reached at 559-562-2511.

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