Man charged with exposing himself to students

The Orange County district attorney’s office is seeking the public’s assistance in identifying potential victims of a man who allegedly exposed himself to an adult and three minors while on their way to school in Fountain Valley and Santa Ana.

John Rodriguez, 20, of Santa Ana is charged with one felony count of attempted sexual battery, four misdemeanor counts of indecent exposure and three misdemeanor counts of child annoyance, according to prosecutors. He faces a maximum of three years and six months in prison and will have to register as a sex offender, if convicted.

He pleaded not guilty Monday and is scheduled for a pretrial Thursday, according to the Orange County district attorney’s office.

Rodriguez allegedly approached a 15-year-old girl to ask for directions. She was walking to Los Amigos High School in Fountain Valley on Jan. 25. When she stopped to give him directions, he allegedly exposed himself, then grabbed her wrist from the passenger side’s window to pull her inside his car, prosecutors said.

She escaped and reported the incident to the Fountain Valley Police Department.

Rodriguez is also accused of exposing himself on Feb. 18 in his 2009 black Toyota Camry, this time approaching two sisters — a 14- and 17-year-old — who were walking to the same school.

Rodriguez allegedly asked the girls for directions and got them, but later returned to offer them a ride. When they turned down his offer, he allegedly exposed himself to them, according to prosecutors.

The girls called their father, who instructed them to get to school and report the man to police.

Rodriguez also allegedly approached an 18-year-old girl Aug. 16 while she was walking in Santa Ana on her way to La Quinta High School in Westminster. After Rodriguez allegedly repeated the same behavior, the girl got away, this time obtaining his car license plate’s number. She then reported the incident, prosecutors said.

Rodriguez, who works as a dental assistant in Santa Ana, was linked to the two other incidents and arrested Aug. 19.

Those who have additional information or believe they may have been a victim of Rodriguez are encouraged to contact Supervising District Attorney Investigator Carl Waddell at (714) 834-7538, Fountain Valley Police Det. Jesse Hughes at (714) 593-4480 or Westminster Police Det. Claudia McCarthy at (714) 548-3736.