Los Angeles- A man charged with nine felony counts, including rape, sodomy and lewd acts against a child, pleaded not guilty today in a Van Nuys court, authorities said.
Miguel Angel Barrera, 44, of Chino Hills was arrested by Los Angeles police last week on suspicion of assaulting a 23-year old woman and two girls, ages 14 and 17. The incidents occurred between November 2006 and last month in the North Hollywood and Hollywood areas, authorities said.
Investigators said Barrera [who went by the name Sergio] may have attacked other women and girls over the last two years and they are looking for potential victims to come forward.
According to the Los Angeles Police Department, Barrera approached his targets as they walked along the street and offered to photograph them or to set up modeling jobs. He allegedly displayed business cards and claimed to be well-connected to Hollywood studios, particularly Warner Bros., said Det. J.D. Clifford.
He said Barrera would take his victims to motels in Studio City, photograph them, sexually assault them and then drop them off somewhere.
"In my experience, that kind of behavior is something that isn't necessarily random," Clifford said, noting that investigators are concerned that the allegations against Barrera may be part of a longer pattern of behavior.
Barrera was being held at the Men's Central Jail in Los Angeles in lieu of $625,000 bail. He faces a preliminary hearing setting Sept. 9 at Los Angeles County Superior Court in Van Nuys, said Shiara M. Davila, a spokeswoman for the Los Angeles County district attorney's office.
If convicted as charged, Barrera could face 20 years in state prison, Davila said.
Police at the North Hollywood station are scheduled to release Barrera's photograph at 5 p.m., as well as a photo of a red, four-door 2005 Dodge pickup truck, license number 7P17947, associated with him. Barrera also has been linked to a white four-door sedan, police said.
