Predator Who Lured Lost Child At Mall May Have More Victims: Police

LOS ANGELES, CA —A suspected child molester, who police say lured a lost child at a Panorama shopping center into the parking lot, may have additional victims, Los Angeles police say.

Detectives from the Los Angeles Police Department are seeking additional victims who may have had contact with Jorge Enrique Lopez-Maza, also known as "Julio Ramirez-Sarmiento." Lopez-Maza, 26, has been in custody since his arrest last year, but new information came to light, leading detectives to believe he has additional victims, according to the LAPD.

Lopez-Maza approached approached a 6-year-old girl after she got separated from a relative inside a store in April of last. year, according to LAPD Detective Marc Madero. Lopez-Mata allegedly lured her into an isolated area of the shopping center's parking lot at the southeast corner of Chase Street and Tobias Avenue, where he's accused of sexually assaulting her behind metal clothing recycling bins, according to Madero.

"He's been in custody for a year, but there are some new developments in the case," Madero said. "We suspect there may be other victims, either here in the Los Angeles area or out of state possibly."

Lopez-Maza, who is charged with kidnapping to commit a lewd act on a child, is being held on $1 million bail.
Anyone with information about the case was asked to call Madero at (213) 996-1375

City News Service contributed to this report.