More Victims Sought in Valencia Couple's Alleged Sexual Abuse

VALENCIA, CA - Authorities on Wednesday sought public help to identify any possible sexual assault victims of a man and woman arrested in March on suspicion of molesting several children in the Santa Clarita Valley.

Francisco Avendano, 42, and Jacqueline Wadsworth, 32 were arrested March 31 at their home in Santa Clarita, said sheriff's Sgt. Brian Hudson of the Special Victims Bureau.

Earlier this month, the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office filed charges of lewd acts with a child against Avendano and Wadsworth, Hudson said.

"Early in 2016, detectives began investigating allegations that the suspects in this case were involved in the molestation of several children at several locations in the Santa Clarita Valley area," Hudson said.

Investigators arrested the couple when they served a search warrant at the suspects' home.

"Based on information developed over the course of this investigation, detectives believe that there are other children that may have potentially been sexually assaulted by these suspects during the past 10 years," Hudson said.

Avendano is in custody on $2 million bail, and Wadsworth is in custody on $220,000 bail.

Anyone with information on the case was urged to call the sheriff's Special Victims Bureau at (877) 710-5273, or Crime Stoppers at (800) 222-TIPS.

--City News Service, photo courtesy of the LASD