Police Seek Victims Of Valley Man Suspected Of Preying Upon Boys

MISSION HILLS, CA — Police in the San Fernando Valley are looking for additional victims of a 44-year-old man charged in a string of child molestations dating back to the 1990s.

Juan Ramon Sanchez has been charged with 26 felony counts including charges of lewd acts upon a child, oral copulation, sodomy of a person under 14 and continuous sexual abuse, police said. Los Angeles Police Department Investigators allege Sanchez invited children in his Mission Hills neighborhood into his home and abused them, sometimes targeting runaways or foster children who lived with him.

Detectives began investigating Sanchez after several victims made allegations that he molested them In Mission Hills between June and December of 1994, according to a police statement. Investigators allege they found additional victims in Lancaster where Sanchez lived in 2002.

Sanchez was also known to babysit and may have victimized additional children, investigators believe. His alleged victims ranged in age from 2- to 17-years-old and were all male.

An extradition warrant was filed for Sanchez's arrest, and the Las Vegas Metro Police Department arrested him on Feb. 24. Sanchez was extradited to Los Angeles and is being held on $3.1 million bail, according to the LAPD.

Investigators asked anyone with information about additional victims to contact LAPD Mission Area Sexual Assault Unit Detective Stieglitz at 818-838-9804, Detective Malinowski at 818-838-9971 or Detective Steward at 818-838-9975.

Calls made during non-business hours and on weekends can be directed to 877-527-3247.

City News Service contributed to this report.