A 19-year-old Costa Mesa man is being held on $1 million bail after prosecutors charged him this week with raping his girlfriend and a slate of related sex offenses. German Leonardo Valdivia pleaded not guilty at his arraignment and remains in custody while the case moves forward. The charges center on an alleged forcible assault on an adult girlfriend and a separate allegation involving an underage girl.
Charges and Bail
Prosecutors on Monday charged Valdivia with rape, corporal injury on a spouse or cohabitant, statutory rape, two counts each of electronic eavesdropping and possession of child pornography, and a misdemeanor count of child annoyance, according to the Los Angeles Times. A judge set bail at $1 million, and Valdivia is due back in court next Wednesday for a pretrial hearing at the West Justice Center in Westminster.
Victim's Account and Restraining Order
The woman who sought a restraining order in November, identified in court papers as an 18-year-old girlfriend, wrote that Valdivia “made me have sex ... by force,” hit her, pulled her hair, and threatened to leave her “stranded on the freeway,” according to court filings. She alleged the October attack happened in a room at his Costa Mesa home and said she recorded the assault at the time, as reported by MyNewsLA. The same filings show she obtained a five-year restraining order against him last fall.
Allegations Include an Underage Sex Offense
The criminal complaint also alleges Valdivia sexually assaulted a minor on July 1 and includes statutory rape counts tied to that incident, according to the Los Angeles Times. Prosecutors also filed two counts of possession of child pornography and two counts of electronic eavesdropping as part of the broader case, which remains under investigation.
Legal Context
Under California law, rape includes sexual intercourse accomplished by force, duress, or threats and can carry multi-year prison terms depending on the circumstances. The statute is codified at Penal Code 261. Possession of child pornography is addressed by Penal Code 311.11, which can be charged as a felony and can carry significant prison time and sex offender registration if a defendant is convicted.
What Happens Next
Court records show Valdivia is scheduled for a pretrial hearing next Wednesday at the West Justice Center and that his $1 million bail remains in place. The courthouse, which serves residents in western Orange County, is listed on the West Justice Center page of the Superior Court of Orange County website for address and scheduling information, according to the Orange County Superior Court.
