| For Immediate Release Case # M-12143 August 21, 2013 |
Susan Kang Schroeder Chief of Staff Office: 714-347-8408 Cell: 714-292-2718 Farrah Emami
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CHILD MOLESTER WHO MOLESTED TWO GIRLS TO BE RE-COMMITTED AS SEXUALLY VIOLENT PREDATOR
SANTA ANA – A child molester will be re-committed to a state mental hospital as a Sexually Violent Predator (SVP) after a unanimous jury found today that the offender is a continued threat to children and the community. The Orange County District Attorney’s Office (OCDA) filed a petition to have Carlos Dominguez, 65, committed as an SVP based on his prior convictions of sexual assaults against a 10-year-old female family relative and a 10-year-old daughter of a family friend.
Under the law, potential SVPs are subject to mental health reviews by the Department of Mental Health prior to completion of their criminal sentence. If the People are able to prove that the defendant meets SVP criteria, a petition is filed to have the defendant civilly committed. There are three criteria that must be met in order to designate a person as SVP. First, the defendant must have committed at least one qualifying sexually violent offense. Second, he/she must be diagnosed with a mental disorder. Finally, it must be found that he/she is likely to re-offend unless he/she is held in custody and treated.
If a unanimous jury finds beyond a reasonable doubt that the defendant meets the SVP criteria, the defendant is committed to a secure mental care facility for treatment until he is safe for release.
1979 Criminal Case (Case # C-42496)
In 1979, Dominguez attended a family gathering and was introduced to female relative 10-year-old Jane Doe #1. He isolated the victim by asking her parent’s permission to take the victim to Knott’s Berry Farm as a birthday gift. On April 16, 1979, Dominguez picked Jane Doe #1 up in his van and took her to the amusement park.
After riding on a few rollercoasters, Dominguez asked Jane Doe #1 if she wanted to put her purse away in the van. Dominguez took the victim to the van, laid Jane Doe #1 on the floor of the van, took off her clothes, and tied a strap around her eyes to blindfold her. Dominguez fondled the victim’s chest, kissed her, and placed his penis between her legs. He covered Jane Doe #1’s mouth as she began to cry and scream and told her to be quiet as Dominguez sexually assaulted her.
On Nov. 30 1979, a jury found Dominguez guilty of one felony count of lewd and lascivious acts upon a minor and he was sentenced to three years in state prison. He was released on parole in 1983 but was sent back to state prison for violating his parole in 1985 after being arrested for false imprisonment and battery. Dominguez was released from state prison in May 1986.