July 28, 2016
Case # 16NF2084
LAW ENFORCEMENT SEEKING PUBLIC’S HELP IDENTIFYING POTENTIAL ADDITIONAL VICTIMS OF CONVICTED SEX OFFENDER CHARGED WITH SEXUALLY ASSAULTING TWO YOUNG CHILDREN HE MET AT CHURCH
SANTA ANA, Calif. – The Orange County District Attorney’s Office (OCDA) and the Fullerton Police Department (FPD) are seeking the public’s help identifying potential additional victims of a convicted sex offender charged with sexually assaulting two young children he met at church. Carlos Antonio Chavez, 57, Anaheim, is charged with four felony counts of lewd acts upon a child under the age of 14. Chavez faces sentencing enhancement allegations for substantial sexual conduct with a child, being a habitual sexual offender, having a prior conviction for a sex offense, and committing an offense against more than one victim. The defendant also faces a sentencing enhancement for a prior strike conviction for committing lewd acts upon a child under the age of 14 in 2001 in Orange County. If convicted, Chavez faces a maximum sentence of 95 years to life in state prison. Chavez is scheduled to be arraigned tomorrow, July 29, 2016, at 10:00 a.m. in Department CJ-1, Central Jail, Santa Ana.
At the time of the crime, Chavez was an active member of Iglesia de Dios Pentacostal in Fullerton. The defendant is accused of befriending the victims, Jane Doe and John Doe, who were approximately four and five years old respectively, and attended the same church.
Between 2005 and 2007, Chavez is accused of luring John Doe and Jane Doe to a bathroom separately at least two times each with the promise of getting them candy. The defendant is accused of sexually assaulting the victims while in the bathroom.
In 2014, the victims reported the sexual assaults to family members, who contacted FPD.
After a thorough investigation, Chavez was arrested by FPD on July 27, 2016.
The investigation in this case is ongoing. Anyone with additional information or who believes they may have been a victim is encouraged to contact Supervising District Attorney Investigator Mark Gutierrez at 714-347-8794.
Deputy District Attorney Rebecca Reed of the Sexual Assault Unit is prosecuting this case.