SANTA ANA – SAPD describes him as a transient, church handyman and now, a suspect of lewd acts.
Jose Trinidad Tavarez (51) is under arrest and being held on $1000,00 bail for molesting a 4-year-old on Father’s Day at Oasis Christian Church. Santa Ana Police booked him at the Orange County Jail on Child Molestation charges.
The father of three lived in a van parked on the church property. Tavarez has prior arrests for soliciting an undercover officer for sex and contempt of court.
Santa Ana police Corporal Anthony Bertagna described Tavarez yesterday as a transient, living out of his van, where he worked for the past year as a handyman and security guard for the church.
Tavarez reportedly lured the girl with bags of potato chips, then molested her during a church service. She told her mother who immediately called police.
Consequently, Santa Ana Police arrested Tavarez for sexual assault. Then they charged him Tuesday with a single felony count of lewd acts on a child.
In addition, Investigators believe there may be additional victims, and released video surveillance. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vvmb6PCCDJI.
If you have any other information please call 714-245-8412, rbonilla@santa-ana.org. You can also call Orange County Crime Stoppers at 1-855-TIP-OCCS.
