Foster Parent Suspected In Sex Abuse Of Multiple Minors Arrested In Palm Desert

PALM DESERT, CA — A 64-year-old man suspected of sexually assaulting a minor while acting as the child's foster caregiver, as well as allegedly assaulting other underage victims, was taken into custody in Palm Desert on Tuesday.

Sergio Avalos Perez was booked into the John Benoit Detention Center on suspicion of various charges of sexual assault of a minor and was being held on $2 million bail, and awaits a Thursday court date at the Indio Larson Justice Center, according to jail records.

Deputies began investigating allegations of child abuse at the foster home on Dec. 10 and notified Child Protective Services, prompting the removal of all children from the residence.

"During the investigation, it was determined that a minor who was placed in foster care at the home had been sexually assaulted by the caregiver," Sgt. Jeff Cryder said. "Investigators identified several additional victims who were also sexually assaulted."

Authorities located the Desert Hot Springs man on Tuesday in the 44000 block of Town Center Way, near Fred Waring Drive, where deputies from the Palm Desert Station Robbery Suppression Team took him into custody without incident, according to the Riverside County Sheriff's Office.

Anyone with information about the case was urged to call Palm Desert Sheriff's Station Investigator Iniguez at 760-836-1600.