According to reports, a behavioral therapist has been accused of sexually assaulting an autistic teenage boy at his home in California.
The Orange County District Attorney’s Office recently issued a press release detailing the alarming allegations against 32-year-old Salvador Armando Ariaga.
After encountering the boy’s father, Ariaga reportedly attempted to flee through the bedroom window before exiting through the door.
On September 18, 2024, Ariaga was at the residence of a 14-year-old boy from Garden Grove, conducting treatment sessions in the boy’s bedroom while his father was in the living room attending to another child, as per officials.
Concerned by the lack of noise from the bedroom, the father went to investigate, officials stated.
When he entered the room, he did not find either his son or the therapist at first.
“Upon opening the door to the walk-in closet, he discovered his son with his pants down and the therapist, whose head was near the boy’s lap,” the DA’s press release noted. “After facing the boy’s father, Ariaga is accused of trying to escape through the bedroom window before fleeing through the door.”
The father called the Garden Grove Police, who arrived on the scene.
The DA reported that “Ariaga allegedly changed his shirt and returned to the boy’s home while the officers were still present.”
Ariaga has been arrested on suspicion of indecent behavior with a child, with police collecting additional evidence, including DNA.
He faces a felony charge for indecent and lewd conduct against a minor under 14 years old, along with allegations that he entered the boy’s house with the intent to abuse him, as stated by the DA’s office.
If convicted, he could face a sentence of up to 25 years. Currently, he is being held on a $1 million bail.
Ariaga has pleaded not guilty to the charges of indecent and lewd conduct involving a child.
Attorney Jacqueline Goodman, representing Ariaga, commented on the importance of his client’s right to a fair trial and presumption of innocence.
The alleged offense is being prosecuted by the Orange County Deputy District Attorney Sean Riordan from the Sexual Assault Division.
In the meantime, the behavioral health agency employing Ariaga, which assists individuals with autism and developmental disorders, has not responded to requests for comments regarding the case.
