Man Ordered to Trial in Molestation Case at Center

A Los Angeles man who has been accused of molesting children at a city-run day-care center in Echo Park was bound over for trial Thursday on seven of the eight felony counts filed against him.

Meanwhile, prosecutors were seeking a bench warrant for a second suspect in the case who failed to show up Thursday to be arraigned on similar charges.

Simon Bermudez, 37, a former aide at the now-closed Echo Park Recreation Center facility, had been scheduled for arraignment before Municipal Judge Juleann Cathey on two counts of molestation, two counts of indecent exposure and three counts of performing a lewd act in front of a child, all misdemeanors, said Deputy City Atty. Alice Hand.

Bermudez was arrested and then released on bail last month after children at the day-care facility accused him and van driver Charles Chavez, 33, of fondling them and performing other improper acts.

Chavez, after a two-day preliminary hearing before Municipal Judge Elva R. Soper, was ordered to stand trial on seven felony counts of performing lewd acts upon children under age 14. Chavez was charged under state law, whereas Bermudez was charged under city codes.

Chavez was returned to the County Jail, where he has been held since Oct. 18. Soper on Wednesday raised his bail from $20,000 to $35,000.

Four children, ranging in age from 5 to 10, testified during Chavez’s hearing that he, on one or more occasions, fondled them through their clothing.

One count of lewd conduct in front of a child was dropped from the case after one boy could not remember one alleged instance of fondling, said Deputy Dist. Atty. Linda Reisz.

The accusations against Chavez and Bermudez, as well as revelations that they had not undergone proper background checks, caused an uproar last month among city officials and parents of children who attend the center. Because of the controversy, background checks were ordered for 2,000 part-time recreation workers.

The Echo Park center was ordered closed this week by state regulators who cited a long list of alleged violations both related and unrelated to the molestation charges. A hearing is to be held on the closure order, probably sometime in January.