Man facing felony counts, suspected of molesting boy in San Clemente for years

SANTA ANA — A 51-year-old man was behind bars Tuesday for allegedly sexually assaulting a boy over the course of four years in San Clemente.

Joselito Vergara Yambao III was charged with 10 felony sex crimes dating back to January 2011 and continuing through October 2015, according to court records.

The boy was younger than 10 when the alleged sexual assaults occurred, according to Carrie Braun of the Orange County Sheriff’s Department.

Yambao was arrested July 31 and made his first court appearance Monday, but his arraignment was rescheduled for Aug. 31.

The alleged victim, who was “suicidal,” went to a hospital and disclosed the sexual assault to a therapist, who contacted his parents and authorities, Braun said.

Yambao, lived in San Clemente at the time of the alleged assaults, but moved to Florida, where Broward County authorities took him into custody, Braun said. Yambao was extradited to Orange County on Sunday, Braun said.

The defendant was a friend of the alleged victim’s family, Braun said.