Case # 15WF1585
Date: August 7, 2015
LAW ENFORCEMENT SEEKS PUBLIC’S HELP IDENTIFYING POTENTIAL ADDITIONAL VICTIMS OF REGISTERED SEX OFFENDER CHARGED WITH SEXUALLY ASSAULTING THREE RESIDENTS INSIDE THEIR HOMES
SANTA ANA, Calif. – The Orange County District Attorney’s Office (OCDA) and the Costa Mesa Police Department (CMPD) are seeking the public’s help identifying potential additional victims of a registered sex offender charged with sexually assaulting three residents inside their homes in the City of Costa Mesa. Jeffrey Robert Smith, 43, Costa Mesa, is charged with one felony count of assault with intent to commit sexual offense during commission of first degree burglary, two felony counts of first degree residential burglary of inhabited dwelling, one felony count of elder and dependent adult abuse, two misdemeanor counts of sexual battery, one misdemeanor count of indecent exposure, one misdemeanor count of lewd act in public, five misdemeanor counts of peeking, four misdemeanor counts of prowling, one misdemeanor count of unauthorized entry of a dwelling, one misdemeanor count of aggravated trespass of a dwelling, one misdemeanor count of possession of a controlled substance paraphernalia and sentencing enhancement allegations for being a non-accomplice present during a residential burglary, and committing a crime against a vulnerable victim. If convicted, he faces a maximum sentence of 15 years and four months to life in state prison. The People will request he be held on $1 million bail at his arraignment today in Department CJ-1, Central Jail, Santa Ana. The time is to be determined.
Between May 2015, to July 16, 2015, Smith is accused of entering homes or peeking through the windows of several homes in the City of Costa Mesa. He is accused of sexually assaulting three residents inside their homes. On at least one occasion, Smith is accused of masturbating outside a victim’s home.
The defendant is accused of standing in front of windows outside of homes and peeking inside at victims. On one occasion, he is accused of being nude outside a victim’s home.
Several of the victims contacted CMPD, who investigated this case. CMPD arrested the defendant on July 16, 2015. Subsequent investigation and DNA hits linked the crimes to the defendant.
Anyone with additional information or who believes they have been a victim is encouraged to contact OCDA Supervising Investigator Mark Gutierrez at (714) 347-8794 or CMPD Detective Robert Hanson at (714) 754-5162.
Deputy District Attorney Bobby Taghavi of the Sexual Assault Unit is prosecuting this case.