San Juan Capistrano Teen Accused of Molestation

Originally posted at 5:52 p.m. July 17. Updated with a response from the school district.

Sheriff’s deputies have arrested a San Juan Capistrano teen on suspicion of sexual molestation, authorities confirmed Tuesday.

Because the boy is a minor, few official details were available. But a parent close to the investigation said the alleged victims were younger children of both sexes.

The parent, who asked to be identified only by the initials S.R., alerted many of her neighbors about the allegations last week.

As she went door to door, a neighborhood where kids often hang out in a nearby park and greenbelts changed in a flash.

“Parents ran to the park [and] greenbelts to keep their kids away from the [suspect's] street," she said. "My neighbor is concerned. He won’t let his girls out at night."

Sheriff’s deputies made the arrest Friday afternoon at the boy’s home, near the intersection of La Novia Road and Ortega Highway, said Gail Krause, a sheriff’s spokeswoman. The boy remains at Orange County Juvenile Hall with no bail set, officials said. 

S.R. said the suspect set off warning bells in March when he was riding a bus to school with her own child, who allegedly overheard the boy sharing a vivid rape fantasy about a neighbor.

“It was so well-thought out -- a violent, sexual fantasy,” S.R. said. 

S.R. said she warned the alleged fantasy target’s parents and also spoke to the suspect’s parents with the boy present, who confirmed the incident “without any remorse,” she said.

In addition, she said she alerted school officials, who vowed to keep an eye on the boy. 

Capistrano Unified spokesman Marcus Walton said privacy laws prevent school officials from commenting, but told Patch: "The district takes allegations like the ones outlined in your email with the utmost seriousness. The district has a close working relationship with law enforcement and child protective agencies. Any behavior that rises to the level outlined by law for mandatory reporting would be referred to the proper authorities."

Anyone with knowledge of the case or additional victims is encouraged to call the Sheriff’s Department’s sex crimes division at 714-647-7419.

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