DA Press Release

◼ Former Hoopa school district employee found guilty of sexual abuse, lewd contact with children - Times-Standard

The following is from a Humboldt County District Attorney's Office press release:

On 4/8/2013 a Humboldt County jury returned guilty verdicts today against Joseph Saint Orozco for having lewd and lascivious contact against three separate minors. Two counts of violating Penal Code Section 288(a) and one count of violating Penal Code Section 288.5(a), continuance sexual abuse of a minor. All three victims were under the age of eleven (11) when they were abused. He will be sentenced May 2, 2013 at 2pm by the Honorable Judge Christopher Wilson.

Orozco worked for the Klamath-Trinity Joint Unified School District. He was assigned to work in the afterschool program at the Hoopa Elementary School. It was at this program that Orozco offended against these children.

An investigation was launched after one of the children reported to her parents that what Orozco had done to her. She had helped Orozco distribute some papers in the teacher's lounge and when she finished he gave her money for the vending machine.

When she returned from the vending machine he asked the child for a hug and then put his fingers down the front of her shirt. She was able to get away from Orozco and as she did he commented to her, “Don't be shy.” She told her parents about the incident which led to her and other children being interviewed via a forensic interview at the Child Abuse Services Team (CAST) office. The interviews revealed other victims.

Search warrants obtained as a part of this investigation revealed Orozco had a large amount of child pornography as well. Much of which depicted children of similar age to the children he molested.

”The courage of all of these children to testify about the abuse they endured by Orozco cannot be overstated. Orozco was in a position of trust and had easy access to the children he victimized while working with an afterschool program.” Paul Gallegos, District Attorney.

This case was investigated by the Hoopa Valley Tribal Police with assistance from the District Attorney's Office and was prosecuted by Paul Gallegos.
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We'll put this in the 'GBP' file.