A Mission Viejo tattoo artist has been accused of molesting a 14-year-old girl and may be charged with molesting three others, authorities claim. There is no word on the 29-year-old man’s planned criminal defense to these charges. He has been charged with felony lewd acts in connection with an alleged incident involving two young girls, although police have only charged him with crimes against one of the victims.
The incident was brought to the attention of authorities when the parents of one girl allegedly found information that the man had contacted their daughter via Facebook. The police described the contact as “highly inappropriate” and claim that it included sexual references.
The man was arrested in 2004 for annoying a child when he allegedly approached a 14-year-old girl who was walking to school, offering her a ride and proposing to touch and take pictures of her. He was sentenced to three years behind bars and deported.
He was arrested recently after police say they chatted with him online, pretending to be the child, and arranged to meet him to get a tattoo.
Sexual acts involving a child are serious felonies and require a vigorous defense. In some cases, defense lawyers are able to negotiate a plea for a reduced charge that involves shorter jail sentences or lower fines. Defense attorneys may be able to have the charges dismissed if the suspect was lured into an entrapment situation. Someone who faces these kinds of serious accusations would be wise to contact a criminal defense attorney to review the case and determine the best defense strategy.
Source: Mission Viejo, CA Patch, “Possible Third Girl Victim of Accused Tattoo Artist,” Jan. 18, 2013