Update: 2 Charged with Child Molestation After Trabuco Hills High Complaint

Originally posted October 28, 2013 at 10:58 AM

Two men have been arrested after a concerned parent tipped a Trabuco Hills High officer to possible ongoing child molestation, authorities announced Monday morning.

A parent suspected an inappropriate, ongoing relationship between Benjamin Avila, 26, of Anaheim, and an unidentified girl 13 or under. The girl thought he was named Alex Valesquez and described him as her boyfriend, according to an Orange County Sheriff's Department announcement.

Another man, Jose Luis Gonzalez, 63, of Anaheim, was also arrested for having sex with this minor child.

Investigators interviewed the girl. She told them the sexual relationships occurred from March 2013 until September 2013.

After a search, detectives determined Gonzalez's home and vehicle matched the girl's description.

Further investigation revealed "electronic communication" which they say suggest Avila and Gonzalez targeted and met other girls for sex.

Avila's bail has been set at $100,000. Gonzalez's bail stands at $1 million, partly because in 2000 he was alleged to have molested a girl under 10 years old.

If convicted, Avila faces a maximum sentence of 22 years in state prison and Gonzalez faces a maximum sentence of 180 years to life in state prison, prosecutors say. Both men also face mandatory lifetime sex offender registration. 

The OCSD Child Exploitation Task Force seeks the public's help as they continue to investigate. If you have information related to the case, you can contact the Orange County Sheriff’s Department at (714) 647-7000 or submit an anonymous tip to OC Crime Stoppers at 855-TIP-OCCS (855-847-6227) or atoccrimestoppers.org.