Riverside man arrested, accused of nearly 2 decades of sexual abuse against foster children
Police say there may be more alleged victims because Edward Sepulveda was a foster parent for at least 90 children over the years.
RIVERSIDE, Calif. (KABC) -- A Riverside foster parent has been charged with multiple felonies after allegedly sexually assaulting at least three girls and one boy who were under his care over a period of nearly 20 years.
"It's an unfortunate situation because you have these foster kids that are really seeking help, guidance, support from who is potentially their foster parent," said Riverside Police Det. Steven Espinosa. "Unfortunately, Mr. Sepulveda took advantage of that."
Riverside police said many of the alleged crimes occurred in the suspect's home on Highlander Drive in a neighborhood near UC Riverside. Investigators said they made the arrest after one of the alleged victims, who is now an adult, bravely came forward.
"It takes some time for some of these victims to come forward and grab the strength to do so, and so we're glad that she did," said Espinosa.
Police said they are concerned there may be additional alleged victims because Sepulveda served as a foster parent for at least 90 foster children over the years. Police said the alleged crimes occurred from 1998 through at least 2013.
Espinosa said investigators remain focused on supporting victims and pursuing the case.
"In dealing with these cases, as detectives, as officers, we see things and hear things that nobody should. What we do it and why we do it is because we want to help these people out," Espinosa said. "At the end of the day, we signed up to do a job. That's what we intend to do in each and every case is truly just help these victims find a voice and find justice."
Detectives told Eyewitness News they are interviewing a potential fifth victim and believe there could be others who have not yet come forward.
"If you know anything regarding this investigation, or you've been victimized yourself by Mr. Sepulveda, we ask that you come forward. We are here to help," Espinosa said.
Sepulveda remains in custody with bail set at $1 million as the investigation continues. Police are asking anyone with information related to the case to contact the detective in charge of the case at (951) 353-7945.
Ex-LCPS teacher gets nearly 17 years for solicitation, possessing child sexual abuse images
Ex-Lovettsville Elementary School music teacher Antonio Geno Ford will serve up to 16 years and eight months behind bars for propositioning a police officer he thought was a 14-year-old boy and possessing child sexual abuse images.
On Aug. 21 in Loudoun Circuit Court, Chief Judge Douglas L. Fleming Jr. sentenced Ford, 29, to 32 years with 15 years and four months suspended. The sentence was for convictions of using a communications system for procuring or promoting the use of a minor, and seven counts of possession of child pornography.
Upon release, Ford will be on five years of supervised probation and must register as a sex offender for life. He can only use the internet for work purposes and cannot be around people under 18 without supervision.
Ford was hired by Loudoun County Public Schools in 2018 and his employment ended May 8 of this year, a day after he pleaded guilty, according to LCPS spokesman Dan Adams. He didn't say if Ford quit or was fired, per the LCPS personnel policy.
The investigation began in January 2025, and involved a detective with the Orange County Sheriff's Office in central Florida posing as a 14-year-old boy on Snapchat, according to a proffer of facts written by Loudoun Senior Commonwealth's Attorney Amelia K. Flynn. She said the detective had a conversation with Ford, who identified himself as "pervteach."
In February 2025, Ford sent the detective an image of his penis and a tattoo was visible on the his right wrist, Flynn wrote. Ford was identified through a Gmail account and an IP address for the home where he was living.
Ford was arrested in August 2025 by Leesburg Police Department Detective Josh Carter. Carter photographed a tattoo on Ford's right wrist that Flynn said resembled the tattoo in images sent to the Florida detective.
More than 70 sexual abuse images and videos were found on electronics belonging to Ford in a search of the home he was living in. They were of boys between the ages of approximately 4 to 14-years-old.
Flynn sought a sentence above Virginia sentencing guideline recommendations. She said Ford "engaged in grievous behavior that put a number of children at risk" and was "clearly brazen" in using the "pervteach" online name. She said a psychosexual evaluation concluded Ford has a high risk of re-offending: a 25% chance within 10 years of his release.
Defense attorney Christopher Jacob sought a sentence at the midpoint or low end of the guidelines, which called for a minimum of two years, five months; a midpoint of six years, one month; and a maximum of eight years, four months.
Jacob said Ford's crimes stemmed from "inappropriate relationships" Ford had with adults when he was young and that he had become fixated on internet relationships that led him astray.
In a written statement, Ford apologized to the community, his family, and his former students. He said he has spent his year in jail taking rehabilitative programs, attending Bible study sessions, and trying to be a model inmate.
"My actions were reprehensible and should never have occurred," he said. "Everybody expected better of me and I let them down. If I could take my actions back, I would. In a heart beat."
Ford asked Fleming to "take a chance on me," but Fleming said he was troubled by the "disgusting" sexual abuse images Ford possessed, his use of the "pervteach" online name, and the evaluation's finding of a high risk of recidivism. While saying he believed Ford was sincerely trying to better himself, Fleming said he agreed with Flynn that Ford was dangerous to the community and needed to be severely punished.
"He is a teacher at an elementary school," Fleming said. "It makes me wonder what he would be up to if he had not inadvertently solicited a police officer."
No comments:
Post a Comment