NORWALK : Cable Talk-Show Host Convicted of Raping Girl
A Downey cable television talk show host was convicted Wednesday of raping a 13-year-old girl who went to him looking for a job.
A Norwalk Superior Court jury deliberated for five hours over two days before convicting Tito David Valdez Jr., 23, after a trial that lasted less than a week. Valdez is to be sentenced Jan. 26 for the rape and molestation of the girl, who is now 14, court officials said.
Valdez and his 56-year-old father, Tito David Valdez Sr., face separate charges for allegedly trying to hire a hit man to kill the rape victim before she could testify.
Prosecutors said the younger Valdez persuaded the girl to sneak out of her Pico Rivera home at 11:45 p.m. last April 28 by telling her it was the only time he could give an interview for a job on his “Hollywood Haze” cable program.
Instead, Valdez took the girl to his family’s home in Downey and raped her, according to prosecutors.
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