Mother Held in Burglary of Sex Case Suspect’s Home

A Downey mother and her boyfriend have been arrested for allegedly burglarizing the apartment of a neighbor after he was arrested and charged with molesting the woman’s 9-year-old daughter, police said Friday.

Diana Gonzales Villalobos, 30, of Downey, and Eric Richard Dilello, 18, of Norwalk, were arrested Thursday at Downey Municipal Court. Moments earlier, Ward Allen Rafay, 28, had pleaded guilty to nine felony counts of committing lewd acts with Villalobos’ daughter, and one felony charge of possessing marijuana for sale.

Villalobos was free on $7,500 bail, while Dilello was in custody in lieu of $7,500 bail, Downey Police Capt. Bob Williams said Friday. They are to be arraigned Monday on burglary charges.

The burglary arrests were the latest twist in a case that Downey police are still trying to piece together.

Police arrested Rafay Feb. 10 at the apartment complex where he had lived for years next-door to Villalobos and her five children. The arrest came after Villalobos acquired a videotape that showed Rafay fondling and performing oral sex acts on her daughter.

Rafay told police his apartment had been burglarized weeks before, and detectives theorized that the incriminating videotape was in some video equipment when it was allegedly stolen.

Dilello told police that a friend of a friend found the tape in a video camera he bought from an unknown man, according to an arrest report. They recognized the girl and turned the tape over to her mother, who viewed the videotape and called police.

But police have been unable to locate the “friends,” Williams said. They also have been unable to determine if Rafay’s apartment was burglarized before his arrest.

“We really don’t know what’s going on,” Williams said.

Police also said they found about a pound of marijuana when they arrested Rafay.

Villalobos and Dilello allegedly burglarized Rafay’s apartment between Feb. 23 and Feb. 25, Williams said.

On Feb. 26, Rafay’s mother reported that $5,400 in stereo equipment, cash and other belongings had been stolen from her son’s apartment.

Williams said neighbors saw Villalobos and Dilello enter Rafay’s apartment and remove some of his belongings. None of the items reported stolen had been recovered as of Friday afternoon, Williams said.

Villalobos’ children are living with their grandparents, Williams said.

Rafay is scheduled to be sentenced March 15 in Norwalk Superior Court, Deputy Dist. Atty. Dean Shotwell said. Rafay could be sentenced to a maximum of 24 years and eight months in prison.