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Man suspected of molesting girls in quinceanera videos

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Los Angeles police Monday night were looking for a 53-year-old man suspected of molesting teenage girls during quinceañera video and photo shoots.

Gilardo Vallida Nunez is suspected of molesting at least four victims, all of them younger than 15, according to the Los Angeles Police Department.

Police said the victims’ families had hired Nunez’s Hollywood Photos for the quinceañeras, or coming-of-age celebrations for girls who turn 15.

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Police said Nunez would video himself touching the girls inside his yellow Humvee.

“It’s sad and maddening that this man used the victims’ quinceañera as a way to find his victims,” said Lt. Paul Vernon, commanding officer of the Mission Detective Division, which is investigating the alleged molestation. “Nunez’s own video, taken inside the Humvee, is our best evidence in one case.”

Detectives served a search warrant at Nunez’s Panorama City home in December and seized computers and memory cards from cameras that were in a hidden closet, the LAPD said.

A judge issued an arrest warrant for Nunez with a charge of felony lewd act on a child and set the bail at $1 million, according to police. Nunez is described as Latino, 5-feet, 5-inches tall with a medium build and receding hairline.

Anyone with information is asked to call Det. Nicole Kittle at (818) 838-9975 or Det. Marc Madero at (818) 838-9969.

Twitter: @LAJourno

robert.lopez@latimes.com

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