OXNARD : Man Denies Guilt in Molestation Case
A transient who befriended families in the Silver Strand beach area and baby-sat children there has pleaded not guilty to 39 counts of felony child molestation.
Kinji Richmond, 25, is scheduled for a preliminary hearing Nov. 1 to determine if there is enough evidence for a trial. He entered the not guilty plea Wednesday in Ventura County Superior Court.
Richmond originally was charged with 22 child molestation counts involving three boys, ages 8 to 11.
Following additional investigation, however, the district attorney’s office added 17 more charges, bringing the number of alleged victims to 11.
Deputy Dist. Atty. Dee Corona said the molestations began in April or May of 1992 and continued until August of this year.
The prosecutor said Richmond was a transient who lived with various families in the county, staying briefly before moving to another place. He was self-employed as an auto detailer, offering his services door-to-door, she said.
Richmond remains in the Ventura County Jail, with bail set at $50,000.
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