MORENO VALLEY: Gateway Park sexual assault suspect, arrested again, pleads not guilty to charges
MORENO VALLEY – Officials announced the re-arrest of a man suspected in at least seven incidents of exposing himself and sexually assaulting females in and around Gateway Park in Sunnymead Ranch in Moreno Valley. The incidents happened over a ten-day period in December and the victims ranged in age from 22 to 40 years old, according to authorities.
Christian Gomez pleaded not guilty to numerous charges at his arraignment today, Monday, Jan. 9.
The alleged suspect, who officers identified as Christian Angel Gomez, 24, of Moreno Valley, pleaded not guilty to three counts of indecent exposure and three counts of sexual battery during a misdemeanor, in-custody arraignment today, Monday, Jan. 9.
Over the past year, deputies and investigators from the Riverside County Sheriff’s Moreno Valley Police station investigated numerous incidents of a male exposing himself and sexually assaulting women around the park.
After the most recent incident happened at 11:23 a.m., Tuesday, Dec. 27, officers and investigators saturated the area searching for the alleged suspect. In addition to searching the area by ground, officials used the department’s city-wide camera system to search for a person matching the suspect’s description.
Using the city-wide camera system, officials located a Hispanic male who matched the description provided by the victim. Officials later identified the man as Gomez.
Officers tracked and located Gomez at his residence on Parkland Avenue, one block southeast of Gateway Park, in Moreno Valley.
After an investigation, officials arrested Gomez and he was booked into the Robert Presley Detention Center on two counts of indecent exposure. He was later cited and released with a date to appear in court.
On Jan. 5, Moreno Valley police investigators continued their investigation and served a search warrant at Gomez’ Parkland Avenue residence.
During the service of the search warrant, officials located evidence that linked Gomez to seven separate Gateway Park incidents, according to officials. The seven alleged incidents happened over a ten-day period between Dec. 17 and Dec. 27, officials explained in a press release about Gomez’ arrest.
Officials did not specify what they found that linked Gomez to the alleged crimes.
Gomez, who was out of custody waiting for his court date, was arrested again, for an additional count of indecent exposure, four more counts of sexual assault, and one count of felony violation of probation. He was booked into the Robert Presley Detention Center.
An online jail records search conducted Jan. 9, revealed Gomez is being held in lieu of $30,000. His next scheduled court appearance is a trial readiness conference scheduled at the Riverside Hall of Justice Thursday, Jan. 19. His trial is tentatively scheduled for Jan. 30.
This is an active investigation and anyone with additional information regarding this case is encouraged to contact Investigator Vasquez at the Moreno Valley Police Department at (951) 486-6700 or by email at [email protected]. Callers can refer to incident file numbers MV163620171, MV162730106, MV160260356, MV162400102, MV161510087, MV161070087, or MV152900091 and can remain anonymous. Citizens may also submit a tip using the Sheriff’s CrimeTips online form.
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Trevor Montgomery spent 10 years in the U.S. Army as an Orthopedic Specialist before joining the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department in 1998. He was medically retired after losing his leg in an off-duty accident.
During his time with the sheriff’s department, Trevor worked at several different stations, including the Robert Presley Detention Center, the Southwest Station in Temecula, the Hemet Station, and the Lake Elsinore Station, along with many other locations.
Trevor’s assignments included Corrections, Patrol, DUI Enforcement, Boat and Personal Water-Craft based Lake Patrol, Off-Road Vehicle Enforcement, Problem Oriented Policing Team, Personnel and Background Investigations and he finished his career while working as a Sex Crimes and Child Abuse Investigator.
Trevor has been married for more than 26 years and was a foster parent to more than 60 children over 13 years. He is now an adoptive parent and has 13 children and 12 – soon to be 13 – grandchildren.