Crime & Safety

Tattoo Artist Accused of Molestation—Preliminary Hearing Set

The court will go over evidence in the case of a Mission Viejo tattoo artist charged with sexually molesting a teen girl.

A judge is scheduled to decide on June 21 if there's enough evidence to move to trial in the case of tattoo artist Edder Giovani Nieves-Vera. Nieves-Vera is accused of luring a 14-year-old girl with drugs, alcohol and tattoos, then sexually molesting her in his Mission Viejo home.

Nieves-Vera was in court Friday morning to set the preliminary trial date.

On Dec. 21, the parents of the teen girl told authorities a man had contacted their daughter on Facebook, offering her a free tattoo, drugs and alcohol, said Sheriff's Department spokesman Jim Amormino.

"He engaged in highly inappropriate conduct, including sexual advances,'' Amormino said.

In 2004, Nieves-Vera, 29, was arrested by Murrieta police for child annoyance and having false identifying documents, Amormino said. In that case he drove up to a 14-year-old girl walking to school, offering to give her a ride, touch her and take her photo, Amormino said.

Nieves-Vera was sentenced to three years in prison in that case and then deported, Amormino said.

Nieves-Vera pleaded not guilty Feb. 15 to three felonies involving the alleged molestation.


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