TRABUCO CANYON : Man Pleads Guilty to Molesting 4 Girls

A former stable handyman pleaded guilty Thursday to molesting four young girls and faces a possible six years in prison when he is sentenced later this month, officials said.

Authorities said Ray Rowe, 48, of Trabuco Canyon befriended the girls’ families and then molested the young girls when alone with them.

Deputy Dist. Atty. Nancy du Pont said Rowe was originally charged with two felony counts of lewd conduct with a child and two misdemeanor counts of child molestation involving two girls.

After further review, the misdemeanor charges were upgraded to felonies, and two new misdemeanor molestation charges were added when two more victims came forward, she said.

All four girls are younger than 14, du Pont said. Deputy Public Defender Marri Derby, who is representing Rowe, could not be reached for comment late Thursday. Rowe is scheduled to be sentenced Jan. 27 in Laguna Niguel Municipal Court.

The first molestation took place in Tustin in 1991 and involved a 12-year-old girl. Rowe persuaded the girl’s parents to let him take her fishing, and molested her during the trip, officials said.

A complaint was made to the Orange County Sheriff’s Department at that time, but no action was taken due to insufficient evidence, officials said.

Rowe was arrested after a second girl alleged that he molested her in 1993 while visiting a Trabuco Canyon area stable to ride horses, officials said.

In that incident, Rowe undressed and forced the girl to fondle him, and also molested her, officials said.

Authorities said two more girls came forward after learning about the arrest.