OC Church Music Teacher Charged In Alleged Sexual Assault Of Girls Aged 12, 9
SANTA ANA (CBS) — A Santa Ana man charged with sexually assaulting two girls he met through an Anaheim church where he gave music lessons was behind bars Wednesday.
David Elifar Verduzco of Santa Ana was charged Tuesday with multiple sexual assault charges involving the youngsters he met through Agape House of Prayer in Anaheim, where he provided electronic keyboard lessons, according to the Orange County District Attorney's Office.
Verduzco, who was arrested last Thursday, made his initial court appearance Tuesday, but did not enter a plea.
His bail is set at $1 million. An arraignment hearing was rescheduled for Dec. 9.
Over a nine-month period between January and September of this year, Verduzco gave lessons to a 12-year-old girl at the church.
He was accused of kissing her on the cheek and inappropriately touching her thigh during lessons, as well as sending suggestive text messages to her cell phone on other occasions.
Verduzco is also accused of using his fingers to sexually assault a 9-year-old girl after he put her and two other younger girls he was babysitting to bed on Aug. 28, according to prosecutors.
Verduzco is facing three counts of lewd acts on a child under 14 and one count each of sexual penetration of a child 10 years or younger and child annoyance, all felonies, along with sentence-enhancing allegations of substantial sexual conduct with a child and lewd acts on multiple children.
Verduzco faces up to 60 years to life in prison if convicted.
A message left with church officials was not immediately returned.
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