IT worker charged with using social media to reach out to minors to molest them

Orange County District Attorney Press Release

For Immediate Release: July 25, 2014

Case # 14WF2704

LAW ENFORCEMENT SEEKING PUBLIC’S HELP IDENTIFYING ADDITIONAL VICTIMS OF MAN CHARGED WITH USING SOCIAL MEDIA TO CONTACT MINORS TO COMMIT LEWD ACTS

WESTMINSTER – The Orange County District Attorney’s Office (OCDA), Cypress Police Department (CPD), and Garden Grove Police Department (GGPD) are seeking the public’s help identifying potential additional victims of a man charged with contacting underage victims through social media with the intent of committing lewd acts. Michael Theodore Mordaunt, 45, Cypress, is charged with 14 felony counts of contacting a child with the intent to commit a specified crime, five felony counts of lewd acts upon a child, two felony counts of lewd acts upon a child under 14, two felony counts of meeting a minor with the intent to engage in lewd conduct, one felony count of possession and control of child pornography, and a sentencing enhancement allegation for substantial sexual conduct with a child. If convicted, Mordaunt faces a maximum sentence of 27 years and four months in state prison and mandatory lifetime registration as a sex offender. He is out of custody on $300,000 bail and is expected to be arraigned Monday, July 28, 2014, at 8:30 a.m. in Department W-2, West Justice Center, Westminster.

At the time of the crime, Mordaunt was working in the Information Technology Department of the Boeing Company in Seal Beach.

Between Feb. 25, 2009, and Jan. 15, 2014, Mordaunt is accused of creating several Myspace and Facebook accounts using the image of a young teenage boy who is surfing. He is accused of contacting minor girls, primarily between the ages of 12 and 16 years old, with the intent to commit lewd acts on the victims. He is accused of contacting minor Jane Does using these social networking websites as well as through text messages and/or phone calls. Mordaunt is accused of having sexually explicit conversations or attempting to meet with the victims. The defendant is accused of requesting and receiving sexually explicit pictures from several victims.

On multiple occasions, Mordaunt is accused of committing lewd acts on multiple Jane Does.

Beginning in 2013, CPD and GGPD began separate investigations related to this case. This case has since turned into a joint investigation, with the assistance from the Anaheim, La Palma, Los Alamitos, and Seal Beach Police Departments, the Orange County Child Exploitation Task Force, and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations.

The investigation 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 or GGPD Detective Dave Young at (714) 741-5836, or CPD Detective Deanna Hartman at (714) 229-3391.

Deputy District Attorney Bobby Taghavi 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