| For Immediate Release Case # 10NF0531 May 14, 2012 |
Susan Kang Schroeder Chief of Staff Office: 714-347-8408 Cell: 714-292-2718 Farrah Emami
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PAROLEE CONVICTED OF SEXUALLY ASSAULTING
12-YEAR-OLD GIRL HE MET ON MYSPACE
SANTA ANA – A parolee was convicted today of sexually assaulting a 12-year-old girl he met on MySpace. Matthew Castaneda, 35, Anaheim, was found guilty by a jury of two felony counts, including one felony count of aggravated sexual assault of a child and one felony count of lewd acts on a child under 14, and a sentencing enhancement allegation for a prison prior was found true. The defendant was on parole for a 2007 prior conviction for felony domestic violence and violating a restraining order. The jury was unable to reach a verdict on two additional felony counts, including aggravated sexual assault of a child under 14 and attempted aggravated assault of a child under 14. For today’s conviction, Castaneda faces a maximum sentence of 24 years to life in state prison and mandatory sex offender registration. He is scheduled for a pre-trial hearing, June 22, 2012, at 9:00 a.m. in Department C-44, Central Justice Center, Santa Ana.
In November 2009, Castaneda met 12-year-old Jane Doe on MySpace and began communicating with her online. On Feb. 17, 2010, the defendant met the victim near South Coast Plaza in Costa Mesa and took an Orange County Transit Authority bus with her to Anaheim. At approximately 6:00 p.m., after walking around in two different parks, the defendant took Jane Doe to his motel room at Zaby’s Motor Lodge on Harbor Boulevard and Katella Avenue in Anaheim. He sexually assaulted the victim at the motel and then fled the scene. He is also accused of raping Jane Doe and attempting to have the victim orally copulate him by force.
At approximately 6:30 p.m., Jane Doe left the room, found an Anaheim Police Civilian Traffic Controller, and asked to be taken home. Jane Doe was reported missing that same day to the Santa Ana Police Department (SAPD). Upon further investigation, SAPD officials learned that she had been sexually assaulted by Castaneda.
On the evening of Feb. 19, 2010, Anaheim police officers located and arrested Castaneda at a warehouse on Placentia Avenue in Costa Mesa.
Castaneda’s lifetime sex offender registration will 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 12 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, Seal Beach, Westminster, and Yorba Linda.
Senior Deputy District Attorney Cynthia Herrera of the Sexual Assault Unit is prosecuting this case.
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