Banning Man Accused Of Sexually Abusing 8-Year-Old Boy Enters Pleas

BANNING, CA — A Banning man pleaded not guilty last week to charges that he sexually abused an 8-year-old boy.

John Edward Lario, 20, pleaded not guilty Sept. 19 to four counts of engaging in oral copulation or sexual penetration with a child under 10, two counts of lewd acts with force on a child under 14, and one count of using a minor for obscene matter — all felonies. He also pleaded not guilty to one misdemeanor count of abusing/endangering a child.

If convicted as charged, Lario faces a possible sentence of life in prison.

Lario was arrested at 2:40 a.m. Sept. 3 on Charles Street in Banning. The investigation into him began the day before after Homeland Security received information from New Zealand's Department of Internal Affairs about an online link originating out of Riverside County that allegedly contained videos and images of child sexual abuse.

Lario was named as the suspect. A search warrant was served at his home, which led to the identity of the alleged victim, an 8-year-old boy, according to the Riverside County District Attorney's Office.

It's not clear whether Lario is in any way related to the boy or how he knows the child.

Bail for Lario is set at $1 million. He remains jailed at Banning's Larry D. Smith Correctional and is due to appear in court Dec. 4 for a felony settlement conference.