Man Suspected in Sexual Molestation of a Child is Arrested in Novato

A 28-year-old Novato man suspected of lewd conduct with a young girl was picked up on a warrant early Wednesday while walking in a downtown neighborhood, said.

Joe Louis Golden, who listed his occupation as a cook, was arrested at 12:29 a.m  and was held on two felony counts of lewd and lascivious acts with a child under age 14, according to the Marin County Jail booking log.

On July 2, a 13-year-old girl reported her aunt's boyfriend had molested her on several occasions, said Lt. Keith Heiden. Police interviewed the girl, who lives in Richmond, on July 6 and the department subsequently filed for an arrest warrant through the Marin County District Attorney’s office, Heiden said.

Officers attempted to serve the warrant twice at Golden's residence, but he wasn't there. Novato PD Officer Alan Bates was patrolling the 800 block of Diablo Avenue early Wednesday morning when he spotted a man matching Golden’s description. He approached the man and Golden provided identification. Golden was arrested without incident and booked at the jail, where he remains on $310,000 bail.