An Orange County orthodontist was arrested for the alleged yearslong molestation of a young boy.
Frank Joseph Mogavero, Jr., 63, of San Clemente, is accused of molesting the young victim beginning when he was just 4 years old, according to the Orange County District Attorney’s Office.
In 2013, Mogavero was accused of inappropriately touching the boy when they were in Mammoth Lakes, California. Years later in Orange County, he was accused of inappropriately touching the boy “repeatedly” between 2018 and 2020, when the boy was 11-12 years old.
Officials note the victim is not a patient of Mogavero, however, to protect his identity, the DA’s Office is not disclosing the relationship between the boy and Mogavero.
The suspect was charged with five felony counts of committing a lewd act upon a child under the age of 14 and one felony count of possession of child pornography.
If convicted on all counts, he faces up to 16 years and 8 months in prison. He is currently being held without bail.
Mogavero also operates offices in San Diego and Mammoth Lakes, according to court documents.
“The sexual abuse of an innocent child is something that should outrage our entire community and we will continue to do everything we can to continue to protect children from the monsters who seek to prey on them,” said Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer.
A preliminary court hearing for a bail review is scheduled for Dec. 9.
