DNA Tests Clear Janitor of Abuse Charges

A 46-year-old school janitor, who was jailed for 33 days on suspicion of molesting a child until DNA tests proved he was the wrong man, said Friday that he and his family are angry that the Orange County Sheriff’s Department didn’t believe his alibi.

“I still don’t believe this happened to me,” Reyes said at the Anaheim office of his attorney.

Reyes, who was released from jail at 1 a.m. Friday, had been identified by a 9-year-old girl as the man who sexually molested her March 20 while a swim meet was in progress at Villa Park High School. He was also believed to be the only person with keys to the lounge where the attack occurred.

Reyes was arrested the day after the attack and was charged with one felony count of kidnaping and five felony counts of forcible child molestation.

But Reyes and his family had insisted that he was at home when the molestation occurred.

Reyes’ son, Marco Jr., said: “He took all the blood tests, he took DNA tests. He cooperated because he knew he was innocent.”

Sheriff’s crime lab experts concluded Wednesday that DNA tests showed that Reyes’ genetic makeup did not match that of semen stains on a towel at the scene.

His wife, Maria, 45, said she knew her husband of 26 years was innocent. Seeing him in jail, she said, “was hell.”

“He said to take care of our family, especially our little boy,” she said, fighting back tears as she grabbed her husband’s hands and pressed them tight. “I kept my head up high.”

Reyes and his family also said they were angry at the amount of time it took to find him innocent.

But Deputy Dist. Atty. Charles J. Middleton said investigators gave the DNA testing top priority.

“In fact, this was one of the shortest times it has taken for DNA testing,” Middleton said.

Often, law enforcement agencies wait weeks to get DNA test results. But it is worth the wait, authorities say, when a criminal is taken off the street or an innocent man such as Reyes can be exonerated.

With Reyes’ release, sheriff’s investigators are back to “Square 1,” Sheriff’s Lt. Richard Olson said. He declined to discuss the case further.

Meanwhile, Olson said he will relay a request Reyes made at the news conference for a formal apology from the Orange County Sheriff’s Department.

Reyes said his incarceration has tainted him as a child molester. Going back to work at the school district, he said, “will never be the same. People will look at me as if I did something wrong.”

His lawyer will seek to expunge Reyes’ criminal record. And the Orange Unified School District said Reyes will be reinstated and will receive back pay.