South OC Dentist Who Molested 4-Year-Old Charged, Police Say

SAN CLEMENTE, CA — A south Orange County orthodontist was charged with multiple felonies for molesting a young boy starting when the boy was just 4-years-old, prosecutors said Thursday.

Frank Joseph Mogavero, Jr., 63, of San Clemente, was charged with five felony counts of committing a lewd act upon a child under the age of 14, and one felony count of possession of child pornography.

According to prosecutors, the attack happened between Jan. 2013 and July 2020 in Mono County and in Orange County.

Prosecutors said Mogavero maintains offices in Orange and San Diego counties, as well as in Mammoth.

Prosecutors said the victim is alleged to have been four at the time of the first attack, and between the ages of 11 and 12 years old at the time of the four subsequent attacks.

While prosecutors said the child was not one of Mogavero's patients, the exact nature of the relationship between the suspect and victim was not immediately disclosed.

The dentist faces a maximum sentence of 16 years, eight months in state prison if convicted on all counts. He is currently being held without bail.

Mogavero is expected to make an appearance in court on Dec. 9 for a bail review and preliminary hearing.

"The sexual abuse of an innocent child is something that should outrage our entire community and we will continue to do everything we can to continue to protect children from the monsters who seek to prey on them," said Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer.