Behavioral therapist sexually abused ‘severely’ disabled girl under 10, police say
A behavioral therapist has been arrested and charged with molesting a “severely handicapped and non-verbal girl under the age of 10” who was in his care.
Mitchell Takata, 21, was still present at the girl’s home when officers arrived at the Riverside home in May 2024 to investigate reports of sexual abuse that had just occurred, the Riverside Police Department.
The alleged attack occurred during a therapy session with Takata, a Los Altos resident, who has worked as a behavioral therapist for three years, police said.
He faces multiple charges:
Lewd acts upon a child under the age of 14
Attempted sexual intercourse or sodomy with a child under the age of 10
Attempted rape of a victim with a mental/physical disability
Takata is being held at the Robert Presley Detention Center in lieu of $1 million bail.
Police believe that, given Takata’s years as a therapist working primarily with severely disabled children, that there could be other victims.
Anyone with information on Takata is asked to call Detective Daniel Suarez at 951-353-7120 or email dsuarez@riversideca.gov.
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