| For Immediate Release Case # 12NF2320 July 23, 2012 |
Susan Kang Schroeder Chief of Staff Office: 714-347-8408 Cell: 714-292-2718 Farrah Emami
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MAN CHARGED WITH SEXUALLY ASSAULTING 13-YEAR-OLD GIRL AFTER PULLING HER INTO PARK BATHROOM STALL
SANTA ANA – A 27-year-old man will be arraigned today on charges of sexually assaulting a 13-year-old girl in a park public restroom after grabbing her from behind and pulling her into a stall. Frank Zsemlye, 27, is charged with one felony count each of lewd acts on a child under 14, forcible lewd acts on a child under 14, and assault on a minor with the intent to commit lewd acts on a child under 14, with a sentencing enhancement allegation for child molest committed in the commission of a burglary. If convicted, he faces a maximum sentence of 15 years to life in state prison. The People will be requesting that Zsemlye be held on $1 million bail at his arraignment today, Monday, July 23, 2012, in Department CJ-1, Central Jail, Santa Ana. The time is to be determined.
On the afternoon of July 19, 2012, 13-year-old Jane Doe took her 7-year-old sister to use the public women’s restroom at Modjeska Park in Anaheim while visiting the park with her family. Zsemlye is accused of following the girls into the restroom.
While Jane Doe waited for her sister, Zsemlye is accused of grabbing the victim from behind and pulling her into a stall. He is accused of sexually assaulting Jane Doe by fondling her vaginal area, chest, buttocks, and legs over her clothing. The defendant is accused of attempting to cover the victim’s mouth, but Jane Doe was able to scream.
When the victim screamed, Zsemlye is accused of letting go of Jane Doe and running from the restroom. Bystanders outside, who heard the victim scream, saw the defendant run from the restroom followed by two little girls. Good Samaritans chased the defendant, called 911, and flagged down a police car. Zsemlye was arrested near the park by Anaheim police officers.
If convicted, Zsemlye will be required to register as a sex offender. Zsemlye’s lifetime sex offender registration would bar him from entering County recreational areas and City parks which have passed the Sex Offender Ordinance. Visit www.orangecountyda.com to read the prior press releases on the County’s Sex Offender Ordinance as well as the 13 other cities that have enacted the Child Safety Zone Ordinance including Costa Mesa, Huntington Beach, Irvine, Laguna Hills, Lake Forest, La Habra, Los Alamitos, Mission Viejo, Rancho Santa Margarita, Santa Ana, Seal Beach, Westminster, and Yorba Linda.
Deputy District Attorney Jess Rodriguez of the Sexual Assault Unit is prosecuting this case.
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