Former teacher charged with sex crimes against a relative, starting when she was 5

Orange County District Attorney, Press Release

For Immediate Release, Case # TBA: June 13, 2013

FORMER TEACHER CHARGED WITH 1990S SEXUAL ASSAULT OF FEMALE RELATIVE BEGINNING WHEN VICTIM WAS 5 YEARS OLD

*A possession of child pornography investigation is ongoing

SANTA ANA – A former teacher has been charged with sexually assaulting a female relative in the 1990s beginning when the child was 5 years old. Robert Ornelas, 62, Santa Ana, is charged with two felony counts of lewd acts on a child with sentencing enhancement allegations for substantial sexual conduct with a child. If convicted, he faces a maximum sentence of 10 years in state prison. Ornelas is being held on $100,000 bail in this case and is expected to be arraigned this afternoon, Thursday, June 13, 2013, in Department CJ-1, Central Jail, Santa Ana. The time is to be determined.

Between 1990 and 1996, Ornelas is accused of sexually assaulting a female relative beginning when she was 5 years old. He is accused of molesting the victim while she was visiting his home including masturbation and oral copulation.

On June 11, 2013, members of the Orange County Child Exploitation Task Force (OCCETF) searched the defendant’s home after receiving information of possible possession of child pornography. In the course of the investigation, information related to the sexual assault of Jane Doe was uncovered.

Ornelas is accused of having access to children as a teacher with the Santa Ana Unified School District from 1992 to 2003 and while coaching a girls’ softball team. He may also have worked in or around an unlicensed day care facility throughout the 1980s and possibly into the 1990s.

The investigation into the child pornography is ongoing. Anyone with additional information or who believes they have been a victim is encouraged to contact Supervising District Attorney Investigator Paul Carvo at (714) 347-8794, the Orange County Sheriff’s Department (OCSD) at (714) 647-7000, or the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s (FBI) Orange County Office at (714) 939-8699.

OCCETF is comprised of members from the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations; OCSD; FBI; United States Postal Inspection Service; Huntington Beach Police Department; and Newport Beach Police Department. OCCETF investigates Internet-related crimes against children and crimes involving the possession, production and distribution of child pornography.

Deputy District Attorney Whitney Bokosky of the Sexual Assault Unit is prosecuting this case.

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Tony Rackauckas, District Attorney
401 Civic Center Drive West
Santa Ana, CA 92701

Contacts:

Susan Kang Schroeder
Chief of Staff
Office: 714-347-8408
Cell: 714-292-2718

Farrah Emami
Spokesperson
Office: 714-347-8405
Cell: 714-323-4486

Art Pedroza Editor

Our Editor, Art Pedroza, worked at the O.C. Register and the OC Weekly and studied journalism at CSUF and UCI. He has lived in Santa Ana for over 30 years and has served on several city and county commissions. When he is not writing or editing Pedroza specializes in risk control and occupational safety. He also teaches part time at Cerritos College and CSUF. Pedroza has an MBA from Keller University.

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