SANTA ANA – Prosecutors have filed charges accusing a man of sexually assaulting two girls, 9 and 12, whom they say he met through church after befriending their families.
David Elifar Verduzco, 32, of Santa Ana, is being held in lieu of $1 million bail and is expected to appear in court for an arraignment on Dec. 9, the Orange County District Attorney’s Office said.
He was charged Tuesday with three felony counts in connection with the younger girl: sexual penetration with a child 10 years or younger, lewd acts upon a child under 14 and child annoyance. He was also charged with two felony counts of lewd acts upon a child under 14 in connection with the older girl.
Verduzco also faces sentencing-enhancement allegations for substantial sexual conduct with a child and lewd acts on multiple children.
If convicted, he faces a possible 60 years to life in state prison.
Verduzco was a parishioner of Agape House of Prayer in Anaheim, where he gave electronic keyboard lessons, including to the 12-year-old, the District Attorney’s Office said.
He is accused of kissing her on the cheek between January and September and inappropriately touching her thigh.
Verduzco is also accused of befriending the 9-year-old’s family and babysitting the child and two other little girls on Aug. 28. After putting the two younger girls to bed, Verduzco sexually assaulted the 9-year-old in her bed, prosecutors said in a news release.
Anyone with additional information or who thinks they have been a victim is asked to contact Supervising District Attorney Investigator Lou Gutierrez at 714-347-8794.
Contact the writer: 714-834-3773 or vjolly@ocregister.com
