Harshest Sentence Ever in OC for Child Rapist; Plus, More Sex Crimes

Men, men, men!

This week's compilation includes a man sentenced to life for forcibly raping a preteen girl who then got pregnant.

Then there's the former teacher and baseball coach who sexually assaulted a young teen boy he met through a volunteer program. The guy also possessed child porn.

Finally, there are the two fellows who touched women they did not know in separate recent (and creepy) incidents in Fullerton.

Demetrio Rojas Perez, 40, of Santa Ana, was sentenced last week to life in state prison without parole for forcibly raping a preteen girl resulting in pregnancy—and in doing so became the first person in Orange County to get life for such a crime, according to the Orange County District Attorney's office. Technically, Orange County Superior Court Judge Cheri Pham sentenced Perez to life without the possibility of parole plus 60 years to life in prison. The young age of the victim and the injuries she suffered were the basis for such a harsh penalty.

Perez, who'd been deported before returning to California from Mexico, was “in a position of trust with access to the victim,” according to prosecutors, who had told jurors that beginning in December 2013 he assaulted the 12-year-old girl numerous times, including forcible rape and forcible digital penetration. She tried to fight back and screamed, but Perez covered her mouth and threatened to kill her and her family if she reported the assaults. These attacks continued over seven months until, in mid-2014, the girl discovered she was pregnant and reported the rapes. DNA evidence confirmed Perez impregnated her, according to Deputy District Attorney Mena Guirguis. A jury in June found Perez guilty of four felony counts of aggravated sexual assault of a child under 14 and one felony count of forcible lewd acts on a child under 14. Sentencing enhancement allegations for inflicting bodily harm on a victim under 14 years of age and personally inflicting great bodily injury during the commission of the above offenses were found to be true. 

Ezequiel Christopher Barragan, 50, of Aliso Viejo, was sentenced last week to five years in state prison for possessing child pornography and sexually assaulting a young teen boy he met through a volunteer organization. At the time of the crime, Barragan was a Spanish teacher at Dana Hills High School in Dana Point and had been involved in coaching youth baseball at various leagues of various ages, including the junior high and high school levels, for 20 years. But it wasn't through those that Barragan met the youth, it was as a volunteer with Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) for Children in Orange County, which serves child and teen victims of abuse and neglect. Barragan sexually assaulted the boy, from the time he was 13 through 15—on multiple occasions between Aug. 14, 2012, and Feb. 7, 2015, according to Deputy District Attorney Heidi Garrel. Between April 9-May 4, 2015, Barragan also possessed child pornography, including nude images depicting boys between the ages of 12 and 16. It was the U.S. Postal Service discovering this that led to Barragan's downfall. He pleaded guilty to four felony counts of performing lewd acts on a child under the age of 14, three felony counts of lewd acts on a child between the ages of 14 and 15, and one felony count of possession of child pornography. In addition to his prison sentence, he must register as a sex offender for the rest of his life.

Two unknown men are being sought by Fullerton Police for separate incidents of inappropriately touching women. Around 6 p.m. on Aug. 6, a woman was walking her dog at Caitlin and Sheddon streets, where she was approached from behind and sexually battered, according to police, who add that when the victim screamed, the man calmly walked away. He was described as black, in his 20s, 5-feet-9, with a medium build, clean shaven, with short hair and three gold studs in his ear. Meanwhile, around 1:15 p.m. Thursday, a woman was sexually battered from behind while shopping in a store in the 1700 block of West Orangethorpe Avenue, police say. That attacker was described as Latino, in his 30s to 40s, 5-feet-8, 180 pounds, with short black hair and brown eyes. He was wearing a blue, button-down shirt and Dockers-style pants, and he was with a Latina with long black hair and a side pony tail was with him. She wore a floral-print dress. Anyone with information about either incident is asked to call Fullerton Police Detective Karin Wright at 714.738.6754. Anonymous tips may be left with Orange County Crime Stoppers at 855.847.6227 (855-TIP-OCCS), via occrimestoppers.org or by texting to 274637 (C-R-I-M-E-S) from a cell phone. (All text messages should begin with the letters “OCCS”.)