COUNSELOR TO BE ARRAIGNED FOR MOLESTING SIX BOYS IN CHILDREN’S HOME

For Immediate Release Case # TBA April 2, 2008

Susan Kang Schroeder Public Affairs Counsel Office: 714-347-8408 Cell: 714-292-2718 Farrah Emami Spokesperson Office: 714-347-8405 Cell: 714-323-4486

COUNSELOR TO BE ARRAIGNED FOR MOLESTING
SIX BOYS IN CHILDREN’S HOME

 

FULLERTON – A counselor for a Fullerton children’s home will be arraigned tomorrow on charges of molesting six boys in his office while they used his phone to call their families living in other countries. Victor Salazar, 26, Santa Ana, is charged with four felony counts of lewd acts on a child, three felony counts of oral copulation of a minor, and seven misdemeanor counts of sexual battery. If convicted, he faces a maximum sentence of ten years in state prison. Salazar is out on $100,000 bail and is scheduled to be arraigned Thursday, April 3, 2008, at 8:30 a.m. at the North Justice Center, Fullerton.

 

Salazar worked as a counselor at Florence Crittenton Home on Harbor Boulevard in Fullerton for the past two years. Florence Crittenton Home is a facility that houses children living in the United States without parents, either because the parents have been deported or the child came to the United States alone. The children have been taken into protective custody by the government until they can be reunited with their family or they reach maturity.

 

In February 2008, John Doe #1, 15, a resident at Florence Crittenton Home, reported that he had been sexually assaulted by Salazar. Five additional victims then came forward. Between May 25, 2007 and February 5, 2008, Salazar is accused of molesting six boys between the ages of 15 and 16 years old. In each case, the defendant was the assigned counselor for the victim. Each victim would go into Salazar’s office to make a personal telephone call to their family in South or Central America.  While the boy was on the phone the defendant is accused of sexually assaulting the boy by putting his hand down the victims’ pants and fondling the victims’ penis. He is accused of orally copulating John Doe #4 and John Doe #5.

 

The victims, some of whom lived at Florence Crittenton Home at different times, reported that they didn’t immediately come forward about the assault because the defendant was in a position of authority and they feared they could be deported or lose the privilege to call their families if they complained.

 

Deputy District Attorney Mark Sacks of the Sexual Assault Unit is prosecuting this case.  

 

###