Guilty Plea From Man Accused In Sexual Assault Of Lake Elsinore Girl

LAKE ELSINORE, CA — A 31-year-old man who sexually assaulted a Lake Elsinore girl several times pleaded guilty Thursday to felony charges.

Christian Javier Ramirez Padilla admitted one count each of lewd acts on a child and unlawful intercourse with a minor under a plea agreement with the Riverside County District Attorney's Office. In exchange for his admissions, prosecutors agreed to drop five related charges and various sentence enhancements against Padilla.

Based on the terms of the plea bargain, Superior Court Judge F. Paul Dickerson indicated the defendant will receive two years in state prison and will be required to register as a convicted sex offender for life under Penal Code section 290, which bars offenders from working around kids and limits where they can go.

The judge scheduled a sentencing hearing for April 19 at the Southwest Justice Center in Murrieta.

Padilla remains free on a $100,000 bond.

He was arrested in March 2021 following a sheriff's department investigation.

According to sheriff's Sgt. Julio Olguin, deputies were informed about the offenses in early 2021, although the victim, identified in court documents only as "E.G.," told investigators the attack occurred in June 2020.

Olguin said Padilla encountered the girl at a residence in the 39000 block of Ardenwood Way, near Highway 74, and forced himself on her over an unspecified period.

It was unclear why the offenses weren't immediately reported, and no information was disclosed regarding how the defendant and victim were acquainted.

Detectives obtained evidence justifying an arrest warrant, which they served on Padilla on Central Avenue in Lake Elsinore during the afternoon of March 26, 2021, according to the sergeant.

Padilla had no documented prior felony convictions in Riverside County.