The L.A. County District Attorney’s Office has charged a 31-year-old Santa Clarita man with four felonies in connection to an alleged sexual assault of two teenage girls on Saturday.
Victor Alvarez pleaded not guilty Tuesday to sexual penetration by use of force against a minor, oral copulation with a minor over 14 and two counts of assault with intent to commit a felony.
Alvarez was arrested Saturday on suspicion of kidnapping with intent to commit rape, according to Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s Station arrest records.
The incident was investigated by the L.A. County Sheriff’s Department Special Victims Bureau, according to Sgt. Joseph Mesa.
“Deputies indicate she was moved within the residence without her consent,” according to an email Monday by Mesa.
“The sexual assault occurred at a gathering on the Fourth of July,” he wrote. “The juvenile victim and suspect met at the gathering located at the 17200 block of Mitchell Drive in Santa Clarita.”
The statement from the Special Victims Unit did not mention a second victim, but two were identified in the criminal complaint filed by prosecutors, as a result of the SVU investigation.
The third felony count alleges Alvarez also committed a sexual assault against one of the victims more than 10 years ago.
SVU detectives were not available to answer any questions regarding how the suspect and victims knew each other, but the charges indicate they did.
The complaint also mentions several alleged “rules of court” violations that could enhance a sentence, upon a conviction. Prosecutors alleged the crimes were: against particularly vulnerable victims; pulled off with a degree of sophistication and planning; and involved taking advantage of a position of trust.
Alvarez’s bail was initially set at $1 million upon his arrest. It was lowered to $320,000 at Tuesday’s preliminary arraignment at L.A. Superior Courthouse in San Fernando, where the charges were filed.
Alvarez is slated for another review of his bail at a hearing Monday, according to L.A. County Superior Court records online.
