A man who fled to Mexico to avoid prosecution turned himself in Wednesday on charges that he sexually assaulted a 9-year-old girl and threatened to kill her 15-year-old sister after breaking into their home in Orange, authorities said.
Ernesto Parraguirre, 20, of Anaheim, is charged with one felony count each of sexual penetration of a child 10 years or younger, lewd acts on a child under 14, criminal threats and a sentencing enhancement allegation for committing a sexual offense during a residential burglary, the Orange County district attorney’s office said.
Parraguirre allegedly broke into the girls’ bedroom the night of Sept. 16 by entering through a window while they were sleeping, according to the district attorney. He is accused of getting into the bed of the 9-year-old and sexually assaulting her.
After the girl began to cry, her sister woke up and Parraguirre allegedly threatened to kill her if she said anything, the district attorney said. A parent was sleeping in another bedroom.
Parraguirre fled the scene and went to Mexico, the district attorney said.
He was being held in lieu of $1-million bail and is expected to be arraigned Feb. 16. at the Santa Ana courthouse.
Authorities said anyone who may have been a victim of a similar attack should contact Orange Police Det. Jeremy Smith at (714) 744-7444 or Supervising Dist. Atty. Investigator Randy Litwin at (714) 347-8794.
— Robert J. Lopez