Alameda Man Released After Pleading No Contest to Molestation Case

An Alameda man who contacted a 13-year-old Santa Rosa girl on phone chat line and attempted to meet her at her school reached an agreement with prosecutors on Tuesday which includes his immediate release and no additional jail time, The Press Democrat reports.

Arnold Luz, 46, served 10 months of jail time under an agreement in which he pleaded no contest to two counts of child molestation for the August 2012 incident, according to The Press Democrat.

Luz had been in custody since his arrest at Cook Middle School, where prosecutors said he drove from Alameda to meet the girl, The Press Democrat reports.

He was charged with 10 counts of child molestation and could face up to 26 years in prison if convicted at his trial, scheduled sometime this summer, The Press Democrat reports.

However, he reached an agreement with prosecutors and the judge to avoid further proceedings in addition to being released on Tuesday, The Press Democrat Report. Luz will return on Aug. 8 to be sentenced to probation and lifetime sex offender registration, The Press Democrat reports.