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Apartment Handyman Arrested For Allegedly Sexually Assaulting Young Residents

MORENO VALLEY (CBS) — An apartment maintenance worker in Moreno Valley was arrested Friday for allegedly sexually assaulting several young girls at the complex where he worked.

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KNX 1070's Brian Ping Reports

Hector Antonio Garcia, 49, was arrested Thursday on suspicion of aggravated sexual assault on a child, sexual penetration of a child under 10, lewd acts on a minor, and annoying a minor.

According to the Riverside County Sheriff's Department, the alleged victims live at the Baywood Villas Apartments at 22945 Bay Ave., where Garcia works as a handyman.

The parents of several girls contacted deputies last week after their children alleged Garcia had touched them inappropriately, among other things.

Sgt. David Knudson says his department interviewed "several young females who confirmed they had been sexually assaulted by the maintenance worker."

Garcia was taken into custody after the interviews were completed. He is being held in lieu of $1 million bail

Investigators believe there may be other victims who have not come forward. Anyone with information about the case is asked to call the sheriff's Moreno Valley Detective Bureau at (951) 247-8700 or (951) 486-6812.

(©2011 CBS Local Media, a division of CBS Radio Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Wire services contributed to this report.)

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