May 20, 2008 7:58 am US/Pacific
Counselor Accused Of Molesting Girl
LOS ANGELES
Police Saturday arrested a counselor at the Orangewood home for abused and neglected children on suspicion of molesting a girl under his charge, it was reported Tuesday.
Authorities took Abner Avila, 24, of Lake Elsinore into custody as he arrived to his job Saturday and Avila was released Sunday after posting bail, the Los Angeles Times reported.
Avila was charged with unlawful sexual penetration and child annoyance after allegedly molesting the girl on three occasions starting in November, according to Jim Amormino of the Orange County Sheriff's Department.
Terry Lynn Fisher, a spokeswoman for the Orange County Department of Social Services, told the Times that the girl is not "nearly 18."
Avila -- a group counselor at Orangewood Children's Home -- has been placed on leave without pay, Fisher told the Times.
He had passed a "thorough" background check before he was hired about two years ago, Fisher said. Orangewood officials are determining if the allegations against Avila are grounds for dismissal.
Police allege the first incident took place at the county-run facility in Orange. Then in February or March Avila allegedly assaulted the girl again while driving her to another location while she was still in the county's care.
The final incident occurred sometime in May, when Avila drove to Anaheim and the foster home where the girl lives and allegedly persuaded her to get in his car, Amormino said.
An Orangewood resident alerted Orangewood officials of the alleged assaults last week.
Police are now searching for other possible victims, Amormino said.
(© 2008 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Wire services contributed to this report.)
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