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Orange County District Attorney
Press Release
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Tony Rackauckas, District Attorney
401 Civic Center Drive West
Santa Ana, CA 92701
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For Immediate Release
Case # 11WF1233
June 13, 2011
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Contacts:
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Susan Kang Schroeder
Chief of Staff
Office: 714-347-8408
Cell: 714-292-2718
Farrah Emami
Spokesperson
Office: 714-347-8405
Cell: 714-323-4486
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BMX COACH TO BE ARRAIGNED FOR sexually assaulting THREE YOUNG BOYS IN HIS NEIGHBORHOOD AND EXCHANGING NUMEROUS CHILD PORNOGRAPHY IMAGES OVER THE INTERNET
WESTMINSTER A bicycle motor cross (BMX) coach will be arraigned this morning for sexually assaulting three neighborhood boys, ages 7 to 9, and exchanging thousands of child pornography images over the Internet. Mandak Kohn Griffin, 30, Cypress, is charged with one felony count each of sodomy with a child under 10, one felony count of oral copulation of a child under 10, one felony count of possession and control of child pornography, and one felony count of using a minor for production of obscene matter. The defendant also faces sentencing enhancement allegations for sexual assault of multiple victims and substantial sexual conduct with a child for John Doe #2. If convicted, Griffin faces a maximum sentence of 85 years to life in state prison. The People will be requesting the defendant be held on $1 million bail at his arraignment this morning, June 13, 2011, in Department W-14, West Justice Center, Westminster.
Between February 2000 to February 2002, Griffin is accused meeting and befriending 9-year-old John Doe #2, whose family lived in the defendants Cypress neighborhood. The defendant is accused of inviting several neighborhood boys over to his house to hang out and look at pornographic movies and magazines. On one occasion while at Griffins home, the defendant is accused of instructing John Doe #2 to take a pornographic magazine into the bathroom. Griffin is accused of then entering the bathroom and rubbing the victims penis. The victim did not report the assault at the time of the crime.
Between February 2000 and February 2002, Griffin is accused of meeting and befriending 8-year-old John Doe #3 after initiating a romantic relationship with the victims female relative. The defendant is accused of inviting John Doe #3 to his house to swim and hang out on several occasions. In one instance, Griffin is accused of sexually assaulting John Doe #3 by rubbing his penis over his swimsuit after insisting to dry-off the victim after he got out of the pool. The victim did not disclose the sexual assault at the time.
Between January 2003 and August 2003, Griffin is accused meeting and befriending 7-year-old John Doe #1 after initiating a friendship with the victims female relative. On several occasions he is accused of inviting John Doe #1 on several occasions to play video games and spend the night after taking him on outings including monster truck rallies. On more than one occasion, Griffin is accused of sodomizing John Doe #1 and engaging in mutual oral copulation with the victim. On a separate instance, the defendant is also accused of taking a pornographic photo of the victim.
Between August 2010 and January 2011, Griffin is accused of exchanging numerous images of child pornography on an Internet site. The Orange County Sexual Assault Felony Enforcement (OC SAFE) Team was alerted and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) began investigating Griffin in an on-going effort aimed at preventing Internet crimes against children by targeting online predators and those who posses, produce, or distribute child pornography. OC SAFE is a multi-agency federal task force including the Orange County District Attorneys Office Bureau of Investigation, FBI, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and the Orange County Sheriffs Department.
During the child pornography joint-investigation conducted by SAFE and the Cypress Police Department (CPD), they learned of the three victims.
The newly-launched Orange County Regional Computer Forensics Laboratory (OCRCFL) processed all digital evidence pertaining to the defendant in this case. OCRCFL is a full-service forensics laboratory and training center devoted to the examination of digital evidence. It arms law enforcement agencies with the expertise and equipment to combat cyber criminals and respond to the growing number of crimes perpetrated using the Internet, cell phones, and other technology, which provide dangerous criminals greater access to citizens personal and private information. District Attorney Tony Rackauckas is currently serving as the vice chair of OCRCFL.
The investigation is ongoing. Anyone with additional information or who believes they have been a victim is encouraged to contact Supervising District Attorney Investigator Randy Litwin at (714) 347-8794
Deputy District Attorney Nagy Morcos of the Sexual Assault Unit is prosecuting this case.
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