NEWBURY PARK : Man Denies Role in Sexual Assault
A Newbury Park man denied in Ventura County Municipal Court on Tuesday that he participated with another man in the sexual assault of two girls in a Thousand Oaks park last month.
Mainor Augusto Zapeta, 26, pleaded not guilty to one charge of oral copulation with a female under 14 years of age. He was arrested along with Homero Escalara Martinez, 20, and a 16-year-old Thousand Oaks boy, who was an acquaintance of the girls.
Zapeta remained jailed in lieu of $5,000 bail.
The 12- and 13-year-old girls told police they were assaulted by the men after they agreed to go with them to Wildwood Park the night of Aug. 7. They were allowed to leave early the next morning and reported the alleged assault to the Ventura County Sheriff’s Department.
Martinez earlier pleaded not guilty to rape and eight related felony counts. He remains jailed in lieu of $50,000 bail.
The name of the 16-year-old was not released.
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