Fugitive charged in O.C. with lewd acts with minor is captured in Cerritos

A fugitive who failed to appear in court in January to face charges of committing lewd acts upon a child has been arrested in Cerritos.

Orange County sheriff’s deputies in Stanton arrested Marco Antonio Mendoza-Marin, 42, of Norwalk in November 2016 on suspicion of committing lewd acts on a minor, according to the Orange County District Attorney’s office. Prosecutors said he subsequently posted $100,000 bail, then failed to appear for a preliminary hearing scheduled for Jan. 12, 2018.

U.S. marshals took Mendoza-Marin into custody in Cerritos on Tuesday, Oct. 30. Further details regarding the arrest were not immediately available.

Prosecutors said the victim was 12 years old when Mendoza-Marin first engaged in lewd acts with her. Court documents accuse the defendant of nine felony counts relating to offenses that took place between Jan. 3, 2014 and Jan. 2, 2016.

The alleged crimes happened in Stanton and Norwalk, according to Emily Sudduth, a spokeswoman for the Orange County District Attorney’s office.

If convicted, he could face a maximum sentence of life in prison.