MURRIETA (CNS) – A convicted felon accused of taking a runaway girl
off the streets of Hemet, plying her with alcohol and sexually assaulting her
multiple times, was charged today with rape of an intoxicated person and other
offenses.
Frankie Lopez Frias, 39, of Valle Vista was arrested Thursday
following a Riverside County Sheriff’s Department investigation.
Along with the rape count, Frias is charged with two counts each of
sex trafficking and unlawful intercourse with a minor, as well as one count of
providing a tattoo to a person under 18 years old and a sentence-enhancing
allegation of targeting a vulnerable victim.
Frias, who is being held in lieu of $85,000 bail at the Byrd Detention
Center, was slated to make his initial court appearance Tuesday afternoon
at the Southwest Justice Center in Murrieta.
According to sheriff’s Sgt. Anthony Pelato, last Wednesday, deputies
received reports that a juvenile girl known to be a runaway was staying at
Frias’ residence in the area of Acacia Avenue and Meridian Street.
“Based on suspicions that illegal activity was occurring, investigators
went to the location and confirmed that the victim, whose identity was not
disclosed, “had been picked up” by the defendant, Pelato said.
He said deputies soon determined that Frias allegedly “had sexually
assaulted the underage girl.”
The county’s Anti-Human Trafficking Task Force, composed of personnel
from various law enforcement agencies in the region, assumed the investigation,
culminating in Frias’ arrest Thursday night and the teenager being placed in
protective custody, according to the sergeant.
Court records show the defendant has prior convictions for importation
of controlled substances for sale and spousal abuse.
Anyone with information on this case is encouraged to call Sergeant Anthony Pelato at the Hemet Sheriff’s Station by calling (951) 486–6700.
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