Accused child sex offender sought pardon
BRAWLEY — Accused child molester Ray Valenzuela appeared briefly in court here Thursday for a pretrial hearing that was subsequently continued to next month.
Valenzuela’s defense attorney had sought additional time to obtain and review items related to the discovery process and was granted a continuance to April 26 by the court.
Valenzuela, who remains in custody, is facing four felony counts in connection to his Feb. 22 arrest, including sodomy by use of force or duress on a child under 14 years old, oral copulation by use of force or duress, forcible lewd act upon a child and meeting with a minor for lewd purposes.
The former Imperial police officer was arrested in El Centro following a joint investigation by the Imperial County Sheriff’s Office and the Imperial Police Department.
The possible existence of an additional alleged victim is also currently being investigated by the Sheriff’s Office, the agency previously reported.
Valenzuela, 48, had last appeared in court on March 8, when the court denied a defense motion to have his $1 million bail reduced.
County Superior Court records also reveal that Valenzuela, a registered sex offender, in June 2015 had sought to expunge his August 2004 misdemeanor conviction for contributing to the delinquency of a minor committed for the purposes of sexual gratification.
Although Valenzuela had met the criteria necessary for submitting the petition to have his conviction expunged, it was ultimately denied in August 2016 for failing to meet the standard needed to receive a certificate of rehabilitation, court records stated. Court records related to Valenzuela’s 2004 conviction state that he had originally faced two felony and three misdemeanor counts related to sexual crimes and contributing to the delinquency of a minor.
The two felony counts alleged Valenzuela had engaged in a lewd acts with a child over a period of time from June 2001 to July 2002.
The misdemeanor counts accused Valenzuela of helping the victim ditch school and inviting them over to Valenzuela’s house, where he gave the victim an oil massage, court records stated.
The county District Attorney’s Office at the time had also sought to introduce into evidence an uncharged offense that had alleged Valenzuela had sexual relations with a then-16-year-old male.
Valenzuela ultimately pleaded guilty in August 2004 to contributing to the delinquency of a minor committed for the purposes of sexual gratification as part of a plea deal.
As a result of his conviction, Valenzuela was subjected to a $100 fine, forced to resign immediately from his employment with the Imperial Police Department and required to register as a sex offender, court records stated.