Santa Ana Man, 32, Accused Of Molesting 2 Girls Being Held On $1M Bail
SANTA ANA (CBS) — A 32-year-old man charged with sexually assaulting two girls he met through an Anaheim church was behind bars Wednesday, with bail set at $1 million.
David Elifar Verduzco of Santa Ana was charged Tuesday with multiple sexual assault charges. He met the children through the 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 at his home last Thursday by Tustin police, made his initial court appearance Tuesday, but did not enter a plea. His arraignment was rescheduled for Dec. 9.
From Jan. 1 until Sept. 27, 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.
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 in Tustin, according to prosecutors.
The parents of the younger girl went to Tustin police last week after they found out about the alleged incident, Tustin police Lt. Pat Welch said.
The alleged victim in the Anaheim case came forward after news reports about Verduzco's arrest by Tustin police last week, Welch said.
Tustin police took the lead in the investigation because the allegations in the Tustin case were more serious, Anaheim police Sgt. Rick Martinez said.
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.
He faces up to 60 years to life in prison if convicted.
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