Former team photographer arrested on new child sexual assault charges

MENLO PARK » San Mateo County authorities say they have identified more victims of a former youth swim team photographer who was arrested last month on charges of sexually assaulting young boys.

Randolph Haldeman, 59, was arrested July 25 after the San Mateo County Sheriff’s Office said detectives identified three victims that Haldeman sexually assaulted at his home in unincorporated Menlo Park, in crimes that dated back to the 1980s.

Haldeman was released on bail, but six more victims came forward after his arrest, the Sheriff’s Office said.

Prosecutors on Wednesday filed 20 felony charges against Haldeman, and he was re-arrested at his home in unincorporated Menlo Park on a $5 million warrant.

The Sheriff’s Office said the ages of the victims at the time of the alleged assaults ranged from 6 to 16.

Detectives believe there could be more victims who have not yet contacted authorities.

“This case was high profile as the suspect made bail within hours of being arrested the first time,” Detective Rosemerry Blankswade said in announcing the second arrest, “and it was a major shock to the Ladera and Portola Valley communities.”

The charges against Haldeman include 14 counts of committing lewd acts against a child, some of them with force. Court records indicate the alleged offenses happened as recently as July 2018.

Authorities said Haldeman met the boys and their families through his work at the Ladera Recreation Center in Portola Valley, where he was a photographer for a swim team. Some of the assaults happened at the center, according to the Sheriff’s Office.

Steve Marra, the Ladera Recreation District’s assistant manager, said Haldeman was never employed by the district, but declined to comment when asked whether Haldeman ever worked there as a volunteer.

“Because this is an ongoing investigation we really have no comment,” Marra said. He added that the center is cooperating with law enforcement.

San Mateo County authorities first learned of the alleged assaults after one of the victims, now an adult, told another person who then contacted the sheriff’s office in January.

The Sheriff’s Office urged anyone who has had contact with Haldeman, has allowed him to be around their children or who believes that someone they know may have been victimized by him to contact detectives Joe Fava and Ron Derespini.

Fava can be reached at 650- 363- 4192 or jfava@ smcgov.org and Derespini at 650-363- 4055 or rderespini@smcgov.org.