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Daniel Duran, a registered sex offender who recently posed as a potential homebuyer and frightened several women in Pleasanton, was arrested by Morgan Hill and San Jose Wednesday morning at 10:40 a.m., according to Morgan Hill Cmdr. David Swing. A judge issued a warrant for his arrest for a violation of 626.81(a) PC – Registered Sex Offender on School Grounds without Lawful Business.

Morgan Hill Det. Kevin Beilman was investigating a report from a Morgan Hill Unified School District maintenance employee working at Nordstrom Elementary School. Duran is said to have approached the employee at 8:15 p.m. March 21 and the employee recognized Duran from a news report. The district employee contacted a Morgan Hill Times reporter, who in turn notified police.

Det. Eric Fredgren of the Pleasanton Police Department said it's a misdemeanor charge and Duran could be out on bail soon.

Since being seen in Pleasanton a couple weeks ago, Fredgren said he had exhibited similar suspicious behavior in Gilroy, Morgan Hill and San Jose. Duran since police issued an alert. Fredgren said his car was repossessed and traveled by way of bus and bike, but could get another car. If he were to come back to Pleasanton, police will document his activity in case he exhibits criminal behavior.

Pleasanton police issued a notice March 23, alerting the community about Duran, a 41-year-old San Jose resident who frequented various Pleasanton real estate offices, open homes and neighborhoods, posing as a potential homebuyer.

He was also seen parked in front of homes for sale and looking into the windows of occupied homes for sale. Female real estate agents, homeowners and their neighbors said Duran contacted them despite being told to contact the proper listing agent.

Police Captain Eric Finn said his behavior at one open home in Pleasanton made the female real estate agent uncomfortable, and she asked him to leave. She later looked him up through the Megan's Law Web site which publicly discloses if someone is a sex offender and where that person lives and contacted the police when discovering he was listed.

Duran was charged with rape by force in 1988 and assault with intent to commit rape in 2000, according to Finn.

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