San Gabriel sex offender charged with molesting young girl

SAN GABRIEL, Calif. (KABC) -- A registered sex offender from San Gabriel has been charged with sexually molesting a young girl and possessing child pornography.

Ronald McKenzie, 66, pleaded not guilty on Thursday to nine felony counts: four counts each of committing a lewd act on a child and possession of child pornography after a prior conviction, along with one count of sexual penetration with a child 10 years old or younger.

According to the criminal complaint, McKenzie was convicted of child molestation in 1990.

Deputy District Attorney Presciliano Duran alleged that McKenzie began sexually abusing a young girl in 2013, then molested her again from July to September of this year.

McKenzie was arrested on Monday at his San Gabriel home after officers responded to a report of suspected child abuse received from the Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services.

While police were at McKenzie's home, they found numerous images of a sexual nature depicting minors on McKenzie's computer and cellphone, officials said.

McKenzie was ordered to be held in lieu of $1.46 million bail. He is due back in court on Oct. 16.

If convicted as charged, McKenzie faces a possible maximum sentence of 28 years to life in state prison, according to the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office.