Man, 45, booked on 437 felonies after 4 years of molesting girl, 13

LAKE ELSINORE — A Lake Elsinore man was arrested after officials say he spent the last four years sexually assaulting a young teen since she was about 9-years-old. Although officials did not say how or if the man and girl were related, the alleged suspect was arrested and later booked into jail Tuesday, July 16, after officials tracked him to his place of employment in Los Angeles.

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Lake Elsinore sheriff’s deputies were first notified about the alleged sexual abuse last Monday, July 15, after responding to the 2400 block of Gazania Way in Lake Elsinore, Riverside Sheriff’s Sgt. R. Ricken reported today. They were sent to the location to investigate a report of lewd and lascivious acts involving an adult male and the ongoing sexual abuse of a 13-year-old girl. 

“Due to the sensitive nature of this incident, investigators assigned to the Lake Elsinore Sheriff’s Station assumed the investigation,” explained Ricken.

Authorities arrested Edwin Sangalang after they say he spent four years molesting a teen since she was around 9-years-old. RSO booking photo

During their subsequent investigation, authorities learned Edwin Castro Sangalang, a 45-year-old Lake Elsinore resident, “began an inappropriate sexual relationship with the 13-year-old female juvenile approximately four years ago,” said Ricken. 

The alleged sexual abuse occurred while Sangalang lived in the cities of Chino Hills and Perris, prior to moving to the city of Lake Elsinore within the past year, according to Ricken. 

Based on the information developed during their investigation, on Tuesday, July 16, Investigators responded to the city of Los Angeles and arrested Sangalang at his place of employment in the area of Westwood Blvd. and Weyburn Ave., “for approximately 200 counts of felony sexual assault” Ricken explained. 

Online jail records indicate Sangalang was later booked at Cois Byrd Detention Center in Murrieta on a total of 437 felony charges; including suspicion of 156 counts of aggravated sexual assault (rape) of a minor, 156 counts of aggravated sexual assault (sexual penetration) of a minor, 52 counts of sodomy with a child younger than 10-years-old, 52 counts of oral copulation with a child younger than 10-years-old, and one count of the continual sexual abuse of a child.

He was also booked on five additional counts of aggravated sexual assault of a minor, five additional counts of sexual penetration by force or fear, five additional counts of sodomy with a child younger than 10, and five additional counts of oral copulation with a child younger than 10.

He remains in custody on $1 million bail and was scheduled to be arraigned at Riverside’s Hall Of Justice earlier today. The outcome of that hearing was not known as of this publication.

The sheriff’s investigation is ongoing

Anyone with further information regarding this investigation or who knows someone potentially victimized by the alleged suspect is encouraged to contact Investigator Jeremy Klemp from the Lake Elsinore Sheriff’s Station by calling (951) 245-3300. Callers can refer to incident file number L191960073 and can remain anonymous. Citizens may also submit a tip using the Sheriff’s CrimeTips online form.

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Contact the writer: [email protected]

Trevor Montgomery, 47, moved last year to the Intermountain area of Shasta County from Riverside County and runs Riverside County News Source and Shasta County News Source. Additionally, he writes for several other news organizations; including Riverside County based newspapers, Valley News, The Valley Chronicle, and Anza Valley Outlook; as well as Bonsall/Fallbrook Village News in San Diego County and Mountain Echo in Shasta County.

Trevor 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, breaking his back, and suffering both spinal cord and brain injuries in an off-duty accident. (Click here to see segment of Discovery Channel documentary of Trevor’s accident.)

During his time with the sheriff’s department, Trevor worked at several different stations; including Robert Presley Detention Center, Southwest Station in Temecula, Hemet/Valle Vista Station, Ben Clark Public Safety Training Center, and Lake Elsinore Station; along with 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, and Personnel/Background Investigations. He finished his career while working as a Sex Crimes and Child Abuse Investigator and was a court-designated expert in child abuse and child sex-related crimes.

Trevor has been married for more than 28 years and was a foster parent to more than 60 children over 13 years. He is now an adoptive parent and his “fluid family” includes 13 children and 15 – but soon to be 16 – grandchildren.