| For Immediate Release Case # 11WF1978 Septemeber 8, 2011 |
Susan Kang Schroeder Chief of Staff Office: 714-347-8408 Cell: 714-292-2718 Farrah Emami |
MAN CHARGED WITH EXPOSING PENIS TO FIFTH VICTIM AFTER 16-YEAR-OLD COMES FORWARD
AS A RESULT OF MEDIA COVERAGE
OF FOUR PRIOR INCIDENTS
*Defendant is also charged with exposing penis to three minor girls
and 18-year-old
WESTMINSTER – A man will be arraigned tomorrow for exposing his penis to a fifth victim while she was walking to school after law enforcement learned of the 16-year-old girl as a result of media coverage regarding four other victims. The defendant was previously charged with exposing his penis to three minor girls and an 18-year-old female. John Rodriguez, 20, Santa Ana, will be charged in an amended complaint with one felony count of attempted sexual battery, five misdemeanor counts of indecent exposure, and four misdemeanor counts of child annoyance. If convicted, he faces a maximum sentence of five years and six months in custody and will be ordered to register as a sex offender. Rodriguez is being held on $200,000 bail and is scheduled to appear in court tomorrow, Friday, Sept. 9, 2011, at 9:00 a.m. in Department W-15, West Justice Center, Westminster.
If Rodriguez is found guilty in this case, mandatory sex offender registration will now prohibit him from entering County, Westminster, and Irvine City parks without prior permission from the respective police departments because these municipalities recently enacted laws creating child safety zones to protect children in places where they regularly gather from sexual predators.
Jane Doe #5
On Aug. 11, 2011, Rodriguez is accused of driving in his car and approaching 16-year-old Jane Doe #5, who was walking on Edinger Avenue in Santa Ana to Valley High School. He is accused of asking Jane Doe #5 if she wanted a ride. The victim refused and kept walking. Rodriguez is accused of driving his car up to the victim again and asking through the window, “Want some d***?” Rodriguez is accused pulling out his penis, stroking it, and exposing it to the victim. Jane Doe #5 yelled and ran away toward a group of women crossing the street nearby. She reported the incident to the Santa Ana School District Police that day. A report was taken but the identity of the defendant was unknown.
On Aug. 22, 2011, the Orange County District Attorney (OCDA) Office sent a press release regarding the first four victims (see below) and asked for the public’s help identifying potential additional victims. Based on the media coverage, Jane Doe #5 recognized Rodriguez and reported to school police that he was the same man who had contacted her almost two weeks earlier.
Previously Charged Victims
At approximately 8:45 a .m. on Jan. 25, 2011, Rodriguez is accused of driving in his car and approaching 15-year-old Jane Doe #1, who was walking on Newhope Street and Opal Avenue in Fountain Valley to Los Amigos High School. Rodriguez is accused of asking the victim for directions to Mile Square Park. As Jane Doe #1 began to give him directions, he is accused of pulling down the front portion of his shorts and exposing his penis to the victim. Rodriguez is accused of reaching out and grabbing the victim’s right wrist and attempting to pull her arm inside the vehicle through the open passenger side window. Jane Doe #1