| For Immediate Release Case #08CF2172 May 17, 2011 |
Susan Kang Schroeder Chief of Staff Office: 714-347-8408 Cell: 714-292-2718 Farrah Emami |
TEEN CHARGED AS ADULT CONVICTED OF SEXUALLY ASSAULTING 9-YEAR-OLD BOY USING
TOY LIGHT SABER
*Defendant also convicted of forcing 8-year-old to participate in the assault
FULLERTON – A Riverside teen charged as an adult was convicted today of sexually assaulting a 9-year-old boy by anally penetrating him with a toy light saber and the hand of another child. The defendant was 16 years old at the time of the crime. Javier Enrique Perez, 19, Riverside, was found guilty by a jury of one felony count of sexual penetration by foreign object by force, one felony count of aggravated sexual assault of a child, and two felony counts of forcible lewd acts on a child under 14 with sentencing enhancements for lewd acts on multiple children and substantial sexual conduct with a child. He faces a maximum sentence of 30 years to life in prison at his sentencing July 22, 2011, in Department N-13, North Justice Center, Fullerton.
At approximately 5:00 p.m. on July 16, 2008, 9-year-old John Doe #1 was dropped off at a Santa Ana home by his mother, who was leaving him to be watched while she went to work. Perez, who is a family friend of the homeowner, was at the house along with several other children ranging in age from 8 to 19 years old.
While other young boys watched, Perez sexually assaulted John Doe #1 in the kitchen by pushing him over the kitchen table and holding him down. He forced 8-year-old John Doe #2 to anally penetrate John Doe #1 with his hand. Perez then anally penetrated John Doe #1 with a toy light saber as the victim screamed in pain and attempted to struggle. After assaulting John Doe #1, Perez instructed the other boys not to tell anyone what he had done.
The victim’s mother arrived at approximately 9:00 p.m. to pick up John Doe #1, and the victim told his mother about the assault. The Orange County Social Services Agency and Santa Ana Police Department were later contacted.
John Doe #1 and John Doe #2 both testified during the jury trial. John Doe #2 testified that while Perez was sexually assaulting his friend with the light saber, John Doe #2 yelled, “Stop! You’re hurting him!” The testimony from both victims was consistent with interviews conducted shortly after the time of the crime with the Child Abuse Services Team.
Oscar Antoniel Arreola, 22, Santa Ana, was the 19-year-old male present during the sexual assault by Perez. Arreola initially denied to police that any crime had been committed by the defendant. Arreola was charged and subsequently pleaded guilty Jan. 19, 2009, to one felony count of accessory after the fact (Case #08CF2705). He was sentenced at that time to 180 days in jail and three years of formal probation.
Senior Deputy District Attorney Jana Hoffmann of the Sexual Assault Unit is prosecuting this case.