A local orthodontist from San Clemente is facing numerous felony charges after allegations surfaced that he molested a boy starting when the child was only four years old, in addition to owning child pornography. Dr. Frank Joseph Mogavero, Jr., aged 63, has been charged with five counts of lewd acts on a minor under 14 and one count of possessing obscene material, according to a press release from the Orange County District Attorney's Office.
The reported abuse began in January 2013 in Mono County when the victim was a preschooler, and continued through July 2020 in Orange County when his ages ranged from 11 to 12. The accused, who also has offices in San Diego and Mammoth, is known for featuring videos of young patients engaging in extreme professional sports. Notably, the child involved is not one of Dr. Mogavero's patients, and their relationship is being withheld to protect the victim's identity.
The allegations include Mogavero inappropriately touching the young boy in Mammoth beginning in 2013, with subsequent incidents alleged to have occurred in Orange County from 2018 to 2020. The gravity of these accusations could result in Mogavero facing up to 16 years and 8 months in state prison if convicted on all charges. He is currently behind bars without the possibility of bail.
Dr. Mogavero's preliminary court appearance is set for Monday where a review of his bail as well as preliminary hearing will take place. Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer expressed a community's shared outrage in a statement, saying, "The sexual abuse of an innocent child is something that should outrage our entire community and we will continue to do everything we can to continue to protect children from the monsters who seek to prey on them." The case prosecution has been assigned to Senior Deputy District Attorney Juliet Oliver of the Sexual Assault Unit.
