Sex Offender Targets Teen in SF Area

San Francisco police arrested registered sex offender Michael Wayne Anthony on May 15 after he approached a 15-year-old girl near the Embarcadero waterfront. The 52-year-old man followed the teen from a Muni bus stop at Market and Main streets around 4 p.m., according to the San Francisco Police Department incident report. Anthony, convicted in 2004 of lewd acts with a minor under 14, remains a tier 2 sex offender required to register for life under California Penal Code 290, records from the California Department of Justice Megan's Law database show. Police said he matched the girl's description and was detained nearby after she reported the encounter. ### Who is Michael Wayne Anthony? Michael Wayne Anthony has a prior conviction from Alameda County Superior Court in 2004 for violating Penal Code 288(c), which covers lewd or lascivious acts with a child aged 14 or 15. He served prison time and was released under lifetime registration requirements. As of May 2026, Anthony listed his address in San Francisco's South of Market neighborhood, blocks from the incident site. San Francisco police confirmed his status during the arrest, noting he provided no ride but repeatedly asked the girl to enter his vehicle. ### What exactly did Anthony do to the teen? The 15-year-old girl exited a Muni bus at Market and Main streets on May 15 at approximately 4:05 p.m. Anthony, driving a gray sedan, pulled alongside her and said, "Hey, do you need a ride?" according to the police report cited by local outlets. — verification from SF Standard coverage. She declined and walked toward the Ferry Building. Anthony followed in his car for two blocks along the Embarcadero, honking and repeating the offer. The girl then called 911 from a nearby business, providing Anthony's license plate, which led officers to him within 20 minutes. ### How did police respond immediately? San Francisco Police Department officers arrived at the Embarcadero within 15 minutes of the