Crime & Safety
Tattoo Artist Charged with Molestation Due in Court Friday
A Mission Viejo tattoo artist will be in court on charges of child molestation.
He's accused of luring a 14-year-old girl with drugs, alcohol and tattoos, then molesting her in his Mission Viejo home.
Edder Giovani Nieves-Vera is due back in court Friday for a pretrial hearing at Harbor Justice Center in Newport Beach.
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.
Find out what's happening in Mission Viejowith free, real-time updates from Patch.
"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.
Find out what's happening in Mission Viejowith free, real-time updates from Patch.
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.
Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.
