A 28-year-old registered sex offender was arrested after he was accused of sexually assaulting 14-year-old and 15-year-old girls, Whittier police said Sunday.
Richie Esquivel Corvera, a Whittier resident, was accused of luring the girls into his car on separate occasions before taking them to motels and sexually assaulting them, Whittier detectives said.
He was arrested Friday on suspicion of rape by force or fear and for violation of probation after being taken into custody during a traffic stop.
He was at a "no bail" status, and was due to be arraigned in court on Tuesday.
Police said Corvera parked in the Sierra Vista High School parking lot on Jan 20 at 9 a.m. He allegedly contacted a 15-year-old girl and convinced her to get into his car. Police said he drove to a nearby motel and sexually assaulted her.
The next day, police said he parked again in the Sierra Vista parking lot. He allegedly contacted a 14-year-old and persuaded her to get into his car before driving to a motel and sexually assaulting her.
The two girls told school officials what had happened on Friday.
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Detectives determined Corvera was the suspected attacker and took him into custody during a traffic stop in the 10600 block of Scott Avenue.
A 14-year-old student who saw Corvera's mug shot in media reports came forward Sunday night to say the accused man tried to lure her into a car on her way to school.
The girl, who was only identified as Marina, said she was positive it was the same man who approached her on Jan. 7.
The Whittier High freshman said Corvera was persistent, and offered to give her a ride to school.
She said she was glad she declined after seeing the man's photo in the news.
"My mom told me not to get into the car with strangers," Marina said.
Corvera is on the sex offender registry for annoying or molesting a child under 18, authorities said.
Detectives believe there may be other victims who have not yet come forward and encouraged anyone with information to call the Whittier Police Department at (562) 567-9255.
