A Santa Ana man has been convicted of molesting a young girl in his family for roughly nine years, beginning when she was just 4 years old, prosecutors said. A jury in Orange County Superior Court found 48-year-old Felipe Horta Arriaga guilty on multiple felony counts after a trial. He is scheduled to be sentenced on March 20, 2026.
Verdict and charges
Jurors found Arriaga guilty of one count of lewd act on a child age 14 or 15, one count of sex with a child 10 or younger, one count of oral copulation or sexual penetration of a child 10 years or younger, and five counts of lewd acts with a minor younger than 14, prosecutors told the court. Prosecutors say the alleged abuse happened while the family lived in Santa Ana and Anaheim and spanned about nine years, beginning when the victim was 4, as reported by MyNewsLA.
How the case came to light
According to prosecutors, the girl first told her mother about the abuse when she was in first or second grade. Years later, in May 2019, she disclosed the abuse again to a counselor at Saddleback High School, prompting further action. According to Saddleback High School, the campus is part of the Santa Ana Unified School District and offers International Baccalaureate and other academic programs.
Family's allegations and next steps
The girl’s mother told police that Arriaga threatened to attack her and to take her children to Mexico and have her deported if she reported the abuse, prosecutors said. The convictions follow the jury’s verdict, and Arriaga faces sentencing on March 20 in Orange County Superior Court, according to MyNewsLA.
What to watch for
At the March hearing, the court is expected to set Arriaga’s sentence and address any related restitution or registration requirements tied to his felony sex convictions. Court filings and the clerk’s office will carry the most current information as the sentencing date approaches.
