A 23-year-old Lancaster man accused of sexually assaulting a child he allegedly met through social media now faces eight felony charges, and investigators believe there could be more victims they haven’t identified yet. Angel Espitia Ardon was taken into custody on Oct. 30, with bail set at $400,000.
According to the MyNewsLA.com report, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department said Espitia Ardon met the child through social media and allegedly engaged in sexual acts with the minor on Jan. 2. Authorities sought additional information from the public Friday as part of the ongoing investigation into the Lancaster case.
Eight Felony Charges Filed This Week
The Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office charged Espitia Ardon with eight felonies on Nov. 4, including multiple felony sexual offenses involving a minor and offenses related to child sexual abuse material, the outlet’s report states. The charges followed the sheriff’s department’s investigation that led to his arrest days earlier.
In a statement, District Attorney Gascón pointed to the defendant’s access to children through his work as a particular concern. “The abhorrent nature of these crimes against children and the defendant’s employment in schools and childcare settings is of tremendous concern, and we are asking for anyone who may have additional information to come forward,” Gascón said, according to the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office.
Detectives Believe There May Be More Victims
Detectives said they believe there may be additional unidentified victims connected to the case and are asking the public for help identifying them, per the same account. Investigators have not said how many people they believe may be affected, only that they are seeking information that could lead to identifying others.
Anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers at 800-222-8477 or visit lacrimestoppers.org, the report notes. The investigation remains active as detectives continue gathering information about the case.
