Man accused of sexually assaulting developmentally disabled

EL MONTE - A 42-year-old Los Angeles man has pleaded not guilty to charges he sexually assaulted three developmentally disabled women from the Healthy Start adult day care center, El Monte Police said.

Juan Fernando Flores, 42, was arrested on May 7, said Detective Ralph Batres. He is due in Pomona Superior Court for a preliminary hearing June 22, Batres said.

"We're working with Healthy Start to attempt to identify all the clients that were there during the time that Mr. Flores was employed there," Batres said.

Three calls to Healthy Start were not immediately returned Thursday.

Flores worked as a cook and bus driver at the facility, located in the 11400 block of Garvey Avenue, since January 2009, he said.

The victims are all adults with special needs, Batres said. Their ages and the nature of their disabilities were not immediately available. Batres said there may be additional victims.

He declined to say how the alleged incidents were discovered.

Flores is being held at Los Angeles County Jail, Batres said.

Adult day care centers are licensed under the Department of Social Services.

According to Lydia Missaelides, executive director of the California Association of Adult Day Services, all employees and volunteers who are in contact with or provide services to clients are required to be fingerprinted and pass a background check.

"They all have to be cleared and then the (Department
of Social Services) also has a system for notifying the licensee if an employee of theirs has a conviction or criminal matter after the initial background check," she said.

maritza.velazquez@sgvn.com

626-962-8811, ext. 2718

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