Additional Charges Filed Against Professional Clown Suspect in Child Rape

The suspect has been working as a clown for at least nine years using the name "El Tin Larin."

The Orange County District Attorney's Office filed additional charges Monday against a professional clown who is accused of raping a 12-year-old girl in 2002.

Jimenez, 41, of Anaheim, appeared in court Monday, but his  arraignment was rescheduled for April 22. Bail was set at $1 million.

Orange County prosecutors added a felony count of aggravated sexual assault of a child and a felony count of forcible lewd act on a child, according to the District Attorney's Office.

Jimenez is also facing a misdemeanor charge of corporal injury to a child. He faces a maximum sentence of 25 years to life in state prison if convicted on all counts.

On Friday, Fullerton police obtained a warrant and arrested Jimenez at a motel in Newport Beach after matching his DNA to the rape crime.

According to Fullerton Police Sgt. Andrew Goodrich, in 2002 the suspect was dressed in a clown mask wearing makeup when he allegedly grabbed the victim from the corner of Lemon and Commonwealth,

Goodrich said the suspect drove to a nearby school, raped her, then later took her to a hotel where he molested her. When the suspect left the car to contact a motel clerk, the girl escaped and called police, Goodrich said.

At the time, police were not able to locate a suspect but did collect DNA from the victim.

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In 2010, police arrested Jimenez on unrelated charges. They collected his DNA and discovered a match to the sample found in 2002.

Jimenez has been working as a clown for at least nine years using the name "El Tin Larin." He's been identified in several YouTube videos performing at children's birthday parties, according to police.

Police are concerned there may be other victims. Anyone with information about Jimenez is asked to contact Detective Kathryn Hamel at 714-738-5327.
 

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