| For Immediate Release Case # 08HF2452
January 2, 2009 |
Susan Kang Schroeder Public Affairs Counsel Office: 714-347-8408 Cell: 714-292-2718 Farrah Emami |
INTRAMURAL COACH TO BE ARRAIGNED FOR MOLESTING FOUR BOYS, AGES 11 TO 13
NEWPORT BEACH – An intramural sports coach was arrested and charged Wednesday with molesting four boys, ages 11 to 13, after befriending their families and spending time alone with the victims. Cameron Joseph Baca, 27, San Clemente, is charged with 11 felony counts of lewd acts on a child under 14, four felony counts of distribution of pornography to a minor, and one felony count of attempted lewd acts on a child under 14. He was out of custody on $100,000 pending criminal charges and a $1 million warrant was issued for his arrest after additional charges were filed. Baca is scheduled to be arraigned today at 1:30 p.m., in Department H-2, Harbor Justice Center, Newport Beach.
Between Jan. 2, 2006, and Dec. 18, 2008, Baca is accused of molesting four boys between the ages of 11 and 13 years old. Baca, an intramural sports coach, is accused of meeting the victims while coaching them in football, lacrosse, and basketball. The teams played in San Juan Capistrano, San Clemente, and Dana Point. Baca is accused of befriending the families of the victims, grooming the boys by spending time with them, inviting them to his home for meals, and buying them baseball cards. He is accused of showing some of the victims pornography. Baca is accused of sexually assaulting the victims in various ways including touching their penises and buttocks, engaging in oral copulation, and sexual penetration.
In December 2008, John Doe #1’s parents, who had severed ties with the defendant after becoming suspicious about the amount of time Baca was spending with their son, contacted law enforcement after John Doe #1 disclosed the molest. Subsequent investigation by the Orange County Sheriff’s Department revealed the three additional victims.
Anyone with additional information regarding Baca’s whereabouts or who believes they have been a victim is encouraged to contact Supervising District Attorney Investigator Randy Litwin at (714)347-8794. Deputy District Attorney Heather Brown of the Sexual Assault Unit is prosecuting this case.
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