Child Groping Suspect Sought In Aliso Viejo: OCSD

ALISO VIEJO, CA —The investigation to find a man who was reported as groping two Aliso Viejo girls continued, Thursday, the Orange County Sheriff's Department said.

Two girls reported being groped by a man in two separate child annoyance incidents near Aliso Creek over the past seven days.

"Both girls were bothered by a man they described as wearing dark glasses," a spokesperson for the Orange County Sheriff’s Office said.

On Thursday, Sept. 12, deputies received a report that a 12-year-old girl walking to Aliso Viejo Middle School who was touched by a male suspect.

The girl confronted the suspect who bothered her, and yelled at him before getting away, according to OCSD spokeswoman Carrie Braun.

"She went to school and reported the incident," Braun said.

Special Victim’s Detail investigators responded to the school, and brought with them a sketch artist, who compiled the image based upon the victim's description.

The girl described a man, possibly Caucasian, in his early 30s, with dirty blond hair and a goatee. The suspect was wearing sunglasses and was dressed in all-black clothing.

On Tuesday afternoon, another incident in Aliso Viejo occurred, this time with a 16-year-old girl, walking home from Aliso Niguel High School.

As she was walking along Aliso Creek Hiking Trail, the suspect "pulled on her skirt," Braun said.

The 16-year-old slapped the suspect’s hand away and ran home where she reported the incident to the sheriff's department.

"The suspect ran off in an unknown direction. Special Victim’s Detail investigators responded, along with a sketch artist," Braun said.

The victim described the suspect as a man, possibly Hispanic, between 30 and 40 years old, 5’6”, 140 pounds, and short black hair. The suspect was wearing sunglasses and was dressed in a black collared shirt and tan cargo pants.

The drawings, similar in nature, have investigators working to determine if the incidents are connected.

Aliso Viejo Middle School is just over under a two mile walk from Aliso Niguel High School, by way of the Aliso Creek Trail.

"If you or your child are the victim of a similar crime, immediately get to a safe area and call 911," Braun said. Anyone with information they believe may assist the investigation is asked to contact the Orange County Sheriff’s Department at 714-647-7419, or submit an anonymous tip to OC Crime Stoppers at 855-TIP-OCCS (855-847-6227) or at occrimestoppers.org.