H.B. payaso arrested for sexually assaulting two girls under 10 years old

ORANGE COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEYPRESS RELEASE

Case # 15WF2533

Date: December 10, 2015

OCDA SEEKS PUBLIC’S HELP IDENTIFYING POTENTIAL ADDITIONAL VICTIMS OF CHILDREN’S CLOWN PERFORMER CHARGED WITH SEXUALLY ASSAULTING TWO GIRLS UNDER 10 YEARS OLD

SANTA ANA, Calif. – The Orange County District Attorney’s Office (OCDA) is seeking the public’s help identifying potential additional victims of a children’s clown performer who was charged today and is scheduled to be arraigned tomorrow for sexually assaulting two girls under 10 years old. Gualberto Torres-Vargas, 37, Huntington Beach, is charged with three felony counts of sexual intercourse or sodomy with a child 10 years old or younger, five felony counts of oral copulation or sexual penetration with a child 10 years old or younger, two felony counts of committing a lewd act upon a child under the age of 14, and a sentencing enhancement allegation for committing lewd acts upon multiple victims. If convicted, Torres-Vargas faces a maximum sentence of 175 years to life in state prison. Torres-Vargas is scheduled to be arraigned tomorrow, Dec. 11, 2015, at 10:00 a.m. in Department CJ-1, Central Jail, Santa Ana.

Torres-Vargas was initially charged in this case on Nov. 23, 2015, with five felony counts for sexual assaulting Jane Doe 1. The complaint was amended today to reflect two felony charges pertaining to Jane Doe 2 and three additional charges pertaining to Jane Doe 1.

At the time of the crimes, Torres-Vargas worked as a clown performer on the weekends and had access to children; however, the defendant did not meet his two victims while working as a clown.

Between Nov. 1, 2014, and Nov. 9, 2015, the defendant is accused of meeting 9-year-old Jane Doe 1 and sexually assaulting her, including sexually penetrating and orally copulating Jane Doe 1.

At the same time, the defendant is accused of meeting 5-year-old Jane Doe 2, and sexually assaulting her, including molesting and orally copulating Jane Doe 2.

Jane Doe 1 reported the crime to her mother. Jane Doe 1’s mother contacted the Huntington Beach Police Department, who investigated this case.

The investigation in this case is ongoing. Anyone with additional information or who believes that they may have been a victim is encouraged to contact Supervising District Attorney Investigator Mark Gutierrez at (714) 347-8794. Torres-Vargas’ booking photo will not be released at this time, and will released at a later date.

Deputy District Attorney Lexie Elliott of the Sexual Assault Unit is prosecuting this case.

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TONY RACKAUCKAS, District Attorney

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

Update from the Huntington Beach Police Department:

On November 24, 2015 we posted about an arrest of 37 year old Gualberto Torres-Vargas for charges of child molestation. He was set to be arraigned today on those charges. At the time of the crimes, Torres-Vargas worked as a clown performer on the weekends and had access to children; however, the defendant did not meet his two victims while working as a clown. The Orange County District Attorney’s Office is seeking the public’s help identifying potential additional victims of a children’s clown performer. Because this case is still ongoing and there could possibly be more potential victims, a photo of Torres-Vargas and his clown costumes are not being released at this time for identifying purposes.

Anyone with additional information or who believes that they may have been a victim is encouraged to please call the Huntington Beach Police Information Hotline at 714 375-5066 or Supervising District Attorney Investigator Mark Gutierrez at (714) 347-8794. Anyone wishing to remain anonymous should call Orange County Crime Stoppers at 1-855-TIP-OCCS (855-847-6227). You can also click on the Submit a Crime Tip link on our Facebook page.