Man Denies Sexually Assaulting Lake Elsinore Girl

LAKE ELSINORE, CA — One of two men accused of sexually assaulting a Lake Elsinore girl over a five-year period pleaded not guilty Wednesday to child molestation.

Angel Moreno Salazar, 26, is accused with 47-year-old Oscar Moreno Martinez of assaulting the victim, identified in court documents only as "Jane Doe," on multiple occasions between 2011 and 2016.

Salazar was arrested Thursday and is charged with sodomy of a child and forced oral copulation of a minor. Martinez, whose whereabouts are unknown, is charged with rape of a child under 10 years old and penetration of a minor.

Salazar was arraigned before Riverside County Superior Court Judge Stephen Gallon, who scheduled a felony settlement conference for Dec. 17 at the Southwest Justice Center in Murrieta.

He's being held in lieu of $1 million bail at the nearby Byrd Detention Center.

An arrest warrant has been issued for his co-defendant.

According to sheriff's Sgt. Jeff Reese, detectives were contacted last month about alleged sex acts perpetrated on the girl. An "extensive and rigorous investigation" ensued, culminating in sufficient evidence being gathered to obtain warrants naming the two defendants, he said.

No other details were provided regarding the investigation, or the relationship of the men to the victim, if any.

According to court records, Martinez has a prior misdemeanor conviction for driving under the influence. Records show Salazar has several traffic-related convictions, but nothing more serious than that in Riverside County.