A Riverside County man, Bryan Josue Flores Valdez, 24, who was already out on bail for a separate child annoyance case, has been arrested again for exposing himself to minors and now faces life in prison, according to prosecutors.
Valdez was taken into custody on August 7 at his home following a thorough investigation by the Riverside County Child Exploitation Team. The Riverside County District Attorney’s Office released a statement detailing the arrest and the charges Valdez now faces.
Investigators revealed that Valdez had been awaiting trial for a prior case involving three misdemeanor counts of child annoyance. The previous allegations involved Valdez reportedly exposing himself to children near several elementary schools in the Corona area. The DA’s Bureau of Investigation was tasked with gathering additional evidence in that case, which led to Valdez’s arrest last week.
“The previous child annoyance case involves Flores Valdez reportedly exposing himself to children near several elementary schools in the Corona area,” the statement said. “After the new investigation, Flores Valdez has now been charged with 13 felonies including s*xual assault of a minor 10 years of age or younger, and charges relating to the production, possession, and distribution of child s*xual abuse material.”
These new charges significantly elevate the severity of the case against Valdez. He is now facing 13 felony counts, including s*xual assault of a minor under the age of 10 and multiple charges related to the production, possession, and distribution of child s*xual abuse material.
Valdez made his initial court appearance on Monday, where he was formally notified of the charges against him. His arraignment is scheduled for August 23. If convicted on all charges, Valdez could face a life sentence, a stark escalation from the misdemeanor charges he was originally facing.
The case has shocked the community and raised serious concerns about how someone already facing child-related charges was able to re-offend. The investigation and subsequent charges underscore the ongoing efforts of law enforcement and prosecutors to protect minors from exploitation and abuse.
As Valdez awaits his next court date, the severity of the charges serves as a grim reminder of the importance of vigilant monitoring and swift legal action in cases involving the safety and well-being of children.