http://www.dailybulletin.com/news/ci_4408019

Article Launched: 9/28/2006 12:00 AM


Sexual assault arrest made in Ontario
Man, 19, accused of lewd and lascivious acts with girl, 13
Jannise Johnson, Staff Writer
Inland Valley Daily Bulletin



ONTARIO -- A 19-year-old man is in jail after being accused of sexually assaulting a 13-year-old girl several months ago in a park bathroom.
David Torres Fuentes, 19, of Ontario, was arrested at his home Friday, according to a statement from Ontario police Detective Diane Galindo.

A school resource officer and Ontario police officers arrested Fuentes at 4:15 p.m. Friday in front of his home, according to the statement.

He was arraigned in Rancho Cucamonga Superior Court on Wednesday on one count of lewd and lascivious acts with a child, Galindo said.

Fuentes is accused of coercing a 13-year-old acquaintance into his car May 22 about 7:10 a.m., according to the statement.

The girl was a student at De Anza Middle School.

She reported Fuentes drove her to Sam Alba Park in Ontario, where he forced her into the men's room. Police believe that he then attempted to rape the girl, but she fought him off, Galindo said.

She immediately went to police to report the incident, Galindo said.

During an interview with investigators, Fuentes admitted to having sexual intercourse with the victim, according to the statement. He denied kidnapping and raping the girl, according to the statement.

Galindo said Fuentes is an undocumented immigrant, which made it more difficult to track him down.

"Because of his undocumented status, he immediately moved from his residence and we had trouble tracking him," she said. "His actions showed consciousness of guilt."

If convicted, Fuentes will be deported after he serves his time, said Virginia Kice, spokeswoman for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

In fact, ICE routinely screens foreign-born inmates in state and federal facilities to determine who is "deportable" upon release, Kice said.

"We have the opportunity not only to get these people off the streets but to get them out of the country as well," Kice said.

Jannise Johnson can be reached by e-mail at jannise.johnson@dailybulletin.com or by phone at (909) 483-9318.