‘Serious Sex Offender’ Arrested
Lewis Eugene James, a registered “serious sex offender,” was arrested Friday after he tried to lure three children with ice cream, soda and candy, police said.
James, 36, of Hawaiian Gardens had four convictions for sex-related crimes against children between 1983 and 1985 and a 1996 felony conviction for failure to register as a sex offender. Three of the other convictions were misdemeanors for indecent exposure and one was a felony for committing lewd acts with a child younger than 14.
Police said James approached the children, whose ages are 8 to 10, at Peak Park on El Dorado Drive at 2:45 p.m. Friday. He told them he was going to the store and asked if he could buy them some goodies, police said.
The children asked for ice cream, soda and candy, and James left, police said. The kids then walked to a nearby house and were playing in the front yard when James returned. The children accepted the gifts but became frightened when James asked them to sit in the shade with him, police said.
They ran home and told their parents, who called police.
James was booked at Orange County Jail on suspicion of child annoyance and parole violation.
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