Santa Ana foster dad charged with raping girls he later adopted

Orange County District Attorney Press Release
For Immediate Release, Case # 13CF0322: March 7, 2013
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

FOSTER PARENT CHARGED WITH RAPING, MOLESTING, AND ABUSING THREE GIRLS AGES 9, 11, AND 15 UNDER HIS CARE

SANTA ANA – A foster parent has been charged with raping, molesting, and abusing three girls when they were 9, 11, and 15 years old. Felipe Hernandez, 66, Santa Ana, is charged with one felony count of aggravated sexual assault, one felony count of forcible lewd act on a child under 14 years old, three felony counts of lewd act upon a child under 14 years old, two felony counts of lewd act upon a child, one felony count of unlawful sexual intercourse, one felony count of oral copulation of a minor, one felony count of sexual penetration by foreign object of minor, one felony count of possession and control of child pornography, and one misdemeanor count of sexual battery with sentencing enhancement allegations for multiple victims and substantial sexual conduct with a child. If convicted, he faces a maximum sentence of 65 years to life in state prison and mandatory lifetime sex offender registration. He is being held on $1,000,000 bail and is scheduled for continued arraignment tomorrow, Friday, March 8, 2013, at 10:00 a.m. in Department CJ-1, Central Jail, Santa Ana.

At the time of the crimes, the victims were living in the defendant’s home. The defendant is accused of violating his position of trust.

On one occasion between Feb. 1, 2006, and March 31, 2006, Hernandez is accused of molesting and raping 9-year-old Jane Doe #1 by force.

Between Jan. 1, 2009, and Aug. 21, 2012, the defendant is accused of conducting lewd acts on 15-year-old Jane Doe #2. On multiple occasions, the defendant is accused of touching Jane Doe #2’s breasts and buttocks over and underneath the victim’s clothes. On one occasion, the defendant is accused of orally copulating Jane Doe #2.

The defendant is accused of threatening Jane Doe #2 that he would not provide her with any money and other privileges if she did not comply with his sexual demands and threatened to take away Jane Doe #2’s cell phone and laptop.

On several occasions between Dec. 4, 2006, and Aug. 21, 2012, the defendant is accused of raping 11-year-old Jane Doe #3.

In the summer of 2012, a family member of the defendant discovered a memory card containing a video of the defendant touching Jane Doe #2 on her buttocks and anus and reported it to the Santa Ana Police Department (SAPD), who is investigating this case.

If convicted, Hernandez’s lifetime sex offender registration will bar him from entering County recreational areas and City parks which have passed the Sex Offender Ordinance. Visit www.orangecountyda.com to read the prior press releases on the County’s Sex Offender Ordinance as well as the 14 other cities that have enacted the Child Safety Zone Ordinance.

The investigation is ongoing. Anyone with additional information or who believes they have been a victim is encouraged to contact Supervising District Attorney Investigator Anthony Sosnowski at (714) 347-8794 or SAPD Detective Ed Zaragoza (714) 245-8386.

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