| For Immediate Release Case # 10WF2234
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Susan Kang Schroeder Chief of Staff Office: 714-347-8408 Cell: 714-292-2718 Farrah Emami |
ADDITIONAL CHARGES FILED AGAINST former part-time aidE of Villa Park ELEMENTARY School FOR sexually assaulting 11-year-old boy and distributing porn to minors after meeting victims through INTERNET
cell phone application
*OCDA seeks public’s help in identifying potential additional victims
WESTMINSTER – The Orange County District Attorney (OCDA) filed additional charges yesterday against a former part-time aide of Villa Park Elementary School’s afterschool program for sexually assaulting an 11-year-old boy and distributing pornography to minors after meeting the victims through a cell phone application online. Miguel Antonio Mendoza, 20, Orange, is charged with one felony count each of lewd acts upon a child under 14 for John Doe #1, attempted lewd act upon a child under 14 for John Doe #1, and three felony counts each of possession and control of child pornography and distributing pornography to a minor for John Doe #1, John Doe #2, and John Doe #3, with a sentencing enhancement for substantial sexual conduct against John Doe #1. If convicted, Mendoza faces a maximum sentence of 13 years in state prison. The People will be requesting the defendant be held on $250,000 bail at his arraignment to be held at the West Justice Center in Westminster. The date, time, and Department are to be determined.
Beginning in August 2010, Mendoza is accused of meeting victims, 11-year-old John Doe #1, 15-year-old John Doe #2, and 17-year-old John Doe #3 through an Internet cell phone application. He is accused of text messaging all three victims and sending nude photographs of himself with the intent to sexually seduce the victims. The defendant is also accused of requesting and having all three victims send him nude pictures of themselves through cell phone text messages.
Over the course of the month, Mendoza is accused of continuing to communicate with all three victims via text messages. On Aug. 29, 2010, he is accused of arranging to meet John Doe #1 at 11:30 p.m. at a 7-Eleven located at Euclid Street and Warner Avenue in Fountain Valley with the intention of engaging in sex acts.
That same day, the mother of John Doe #1 noticed inappropriate text messages and pictures from Mendoza on her son’s cell phone and contacted the Fountain Valley Police Department (FVPD) who investigated this case. Mendoza is accused of arriving at 7-Eleven at the pre-arranged time and was arrested by FVPD. When apprehended by police, the defendant is accused of being in possession of nude pictures of victims, John Doe #1, #2, and #3.
Mendoza was initially arrested with only the crimes against John Doe #1 and posted the statutorily scheduled bail of $100,000 on Aug. 30, 2010. Upon further investigation by FVPD, the two additional victims, John Doe #2 and #3 were identified. On Sept. 13, 2010, the OCDA filed additional charges and an arrest warrant was issued for Mendoza. The defendant was arrested this morning by FVPD.
The investigation is ongoing. Anyone with additional information or who believes they have been a victim is encouraged to contact Supervising District Attorney Investigator Randy Litwin.