Jury Selection Begins in Teen Rapes Trial
Jury selection began Monday in the rape and molestation trial of a Simi Valley man accused of posing as a teen and plying several teenage girls with alcohol and marijuana before raping them last summer.
Victor M. Becerra, 27, is charged with close to 50 counts of rape and molestation. Investigators have accused him of molesting at least 10 girls ages 12 to 15 in Simi Valley. At least five of the girls said they were raped.
Simi Valley police arrested Becerra in October after a 15-year-old girl complained to police about being sexually assaulted. Investigators said they believe the factory worker cruised teenage haunts in Simi Valley where many of the girls spent time.
Becerra is accused of picking up many of the girls at the city’s Family Fun Zone and at two convenience stores equipped with video games. Investigators testifying at Becerra’s preliminary hearing said Becerra posed as a 19-year-old and impressed the girls with his sports car and cache of liquor and drugs at home.
Becerra has pleaded not guilty to all the charges.
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