| For Immediate Release Case # 09CF2322
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Susan Kang Schroeder Public Affairs Counsel Office: 714-347-8408 Cell: 714-292-2718 Farrah Emami |
FORMER FUGITIVE TO BE ARRAIGNED ON CHARGES OF MOLESTING 9-YEAR-OLD GIRL AND THREATENING TO KILL HER 15-YEAR-OLD SISTER IN LATE NIGHT HOME BREAK-IN
SANTA ANA – A fugitive sought by the Orange County District Attorney (OCDA) and Orange Police Department (OPD) turned himself in today on charges of sexually assaulting a 9-year-old girl and threatening to kill her 15-year-old sister after breaking into their home in the middle of the night through a bedroom window. Ernesto Parraguirre, 20, Anaheim, is charged with one felony count each of sexual penetration of a child 10 years or younger, lewd acts on a child under 14, criminal threats, and a sentencing enhancement allegation for committing a sexual offense in the commission of a residential burglary. If convicted on all counts, he faces a minimum sentence of 25 years to life in state prison. Parraguirre is in custody on $1 million bail and is expected to be arraigned Tuesday, Feb. 16, 2010, in Department CJ-1, Central Jail, Santa Ana.
At approximately 5:00 a.m. on Sept. 16, 2009, Parraguirre is accused of breaking into a home in Orange by removing a screen and climbing through a bedroom window. He is accused of entering the bedroom, where 9-year-old Jane Doe #1 was sleeping with her sister, 15-year-old Jane Doe #2. The victims do not know the defendant. The victims’ parent was sleeping in a nearby bedroom. Parraguirre is accused of getting into the bed with Jane Doe #1 and sexually assaulting her. Jane Doe #1 woke up and began to cry, waking her sister. Parraguirre is accused of threatening to kill Jane Doe #2 if she said anything. The defendant then fled the scene.
The defendant is accused of fleeing to Mexico to avoid prosecution. On Sept. 25, 2009, OCDA and OPD released a press release seeking the public’s help in locating the defendant. Parraguirre turned himself in today, Feb. 10, 2010, to OPD.
Anyone who believes they have been a victim is encouraged to contact Orange Police Detective Jeremy Smith at
(714)744-7444 or Supervising District Attorney Investigator Randy Litwin at (714) 347-8794.
Deputy District Attorney Robert Mestman of the Sexual Assault Unit is prosecuting this case.
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