T.O. man accused of sexually assaulting girls

A Thousand Oaks man has been charged with a dozen felonies and accused of multiple special enhancements in a sex crime case involving three girls.

Authorities said there may be more victims.

Raul Garcia Gomez, 24, was charged Monday in Ventura County Superior Court with multiple counts of lewd act upon a child, multiple counts of forcible lewd act on a child, assault with intent to commit a sexual assault during a burglary, kidnapping for child molesting and unlawful act with a child 10 or younger. Prosecutors also filed multiple special allegations including that victims were under the age of 14, victims were vulnerable and the suspect took advantage of a position of trust, court records show.

Garcia Gomez was arrested by Ventura County Sheriff's detectives on Dec. 15 after an investigation spurred by a child's report in October, the agency said. The sheriff's office is contracted to provide police services in Thousand Oaks.

In October, a girl reported that she had been sexually assaulted multiple times by a known suspect, authorities said. School resource officers in Thousand Oaks initially contacted the girl and learned there were possible additional victims. Investigators who spoke with two other girls were told the suspect also assaulted them. All three girls were described as Thousand Oaks residents. The ages of the juveniles were not provided.

The alleged crimes didn't take place at a school, said sheriff's Capt. Steve Michalec on Wednesday, but were reported to a school resource officer who conducted the first interviews.

Garcia Gomez was identified as the suspect. A search warrant for his home in the 600 block of Brossard Drive was approved on Dec. 12. Garcia Gomez was arrested on Dec. 15 during the warrant search.

On Monday, the Ventura County District Attorney's Office filed charges. During an arraignment before Judge Nancy Ayers Monday afternoon, Garcia Gomez was represented by the Ventura County Public Defender's Office. No plea was entered. A defense request to continue the hearing was granted.

The judge approved a motion from prosecutors to have Garcia Gomez detained in county jail without bail.

The arraignment will resume on the afternoon of Jan. 19 in courtroom 13.

The sheriff's investigation remains ongoing. Authorities said they believe there may be more victims.

Anyone with information about Garcia Gomez, the case or other victims can call Detective Greg Webb of the Thousand Oaks major crimes unit at 805-371-8309.

This story may be updated.

This article originally appeared on Ventura County Star: Thousand Oaks man accused of sexually assaulting girls