Santa Clarita couple arrested for lewd acts with children; additional victims sought

SANTA CLARITA, Calif. (KABC) -- A Santa Clarita couple has been arrested for allegedly engaging in lewd acts with at least 10 children, and sheriff's deputies fear there could be additional victims.

Francisco Avendano, 42, and Jacqueline Wadsworth, 32, molested several children at numerous locations across the Santa Clarita Valley, according to the Santa Clarita Sheriff's Department's Special Victims Bureau.

Authorities began investigating the allegations at the beginning of the year. Avendano and Wadsworth were arrested at their residence in Santa Clarita on March 31 on suspicion of having committed lewd acts upon a child, sheriff's deputies said.

The couple allegedly targeted mostly neighborhood kids, grooming them and their parents to gain their trust.

"Many times they've threatened the kids that 'if you say something, I will harm you, I will harm your family,'" Sgt. Brian Hudson said.

Investigators say the abuse typically happened during sleepovers. It was after one of those sleepovers that a 12-year-boy told his mother what happened to him.

"It's a horrific case, and that's why we're concerned there may be other kids out there just based on the nature and the amount of kids that have been involved so far," Hudson said.

The victims' ages range from 3 to 17 years old. Some of the alleged sexual abuse took place at a mobile home park in the 30000 block of Sand Canyon Road in Canyon Country, sheriff's deputies said, but the couple moved several times. Investigators say they also lived in Castaic and Newhall, where they were arrested two weeks ago. Their most recent home in Newhall was located across the street from an elementary school.

Avendano is being held in lieu of $2 million bail and Wadsworth is being held in lieu of $220,000 bail. The suspects are scheduled to appear in court on Friday.

Detectives believe the suspects may have sexually assaulted additional children during the course of the last 10 years.

Anyone with further information or who may have been victimized by the suspects is asked to contact the Special Victims Bureau at (877) 710-5273.