A 42-year-old Florida man made his first appearance in court Thursday on charges of sexually assaulting a girl in Huntington Beach, who was allegedly victimized by three other men, according to court records.
Dwight Nicholas Castaldi, who was arrested Monday, was charged last month with four charges of lewd acts with a minor younger than 14 and a count of luring a child with the intent to commit a sex crime, all felonies, according to court records.
Castaldi was being held in lieu of $200,000 bail. The dates of the alleged crimes are in January 2016, according to court records.
The four defendants do not know each other, but met the 13-year-old victim online, according to the Orange County District Attorney's Office. Two of the men had personal sexual relations with the teen, but two others engaged in sexual conduct with her online, according to prosecutors.
Huntington Beach police Officer Angela Bennett said authorities were working on a news release about the case, but were not ready to comment on it.
The other defendants in the case are Christian Reid Palmer, 27, of Sacramento, Sohrab Anaraki, 33, of Topanga, and Bradley Thomas Williams, 34, of Dana Point. Palmer's attorney, John Barnett, declined comment.
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Williams is charged with three counts of lewd acts with a minor younger than 14 and a count of meeting a minor to commit lewd conduct, all felonies.
Anaraki is charged with one count each of luring a child with the intent to commit a sex crime and meeting a minor to commit lewd conduct, and six counts of lewd acts with a minor younger than 14, all felonies.
Palmer is charged with one count each of luring a child with the intent to commit a sex crime and meeting a minor to commit a lewd act and seven lewd acts with a minor younger than 14, all felonies.
All four defendants face a sentencing enhancement allegation of substantial sexual conduct with a minor, according to court records.
Palmer, Anaraki and Williams pleaded not guilty last month and were next due in court for a pretrial hearing on April 27.
