A Santa Ana barber is being accused of molesting a teen boy who was at a local salon, and police believe there may be additional victims.
Rubin Olguin, 51, allegedly committed a lewd act with the 14-year-old in July at Salon de Belleza Nuevo Guadalajara, in a back area where stylists take their clients to wash their hair, while the boy’s mother was waiting for her son in the lobby.
Police said the boy only recently told his mother and gave her details of the alleged assault.
“Uncomfortable conversation to say the least, but it's an important one,” said Cpl. Anthony Bertagna, spokesman for the Santa Ana Police Department. “These types of crimes stick with young children for the rest of their lives.”
As investigators seek out possible additional victims, colleagues of Olguin have jumped to his defense.
Co-workers said he cut hair at the salon six days a week. They called him a hard worker who put in long hours and had done so consistently for five years.
They also said the door is always open and that no one is ever alone in the salon.
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"I knew Rubin for 20 years in Mexico," one colleague said in Spanish. She called the accusation a lie.
Customer Armando Macedo said he too knows Olguin and described him as a good talker who tells a few jokes and is always smiling.
“I want to let them know Rubin is not a bad person,” he said. “Yeah, I'm very sure of that because I've known him for a long time.”
But police are convinced Olguin may have gained the trust of other young clients who've yet to come forward.
Olgiun is being held in lieu of $100,000 bail. Anyone with information is asked to call the Santa Ana Police Department.
