The child-rape bust of a 36-year-old Lake Forest resident is unique on two counts: the suspect is a woman, and she is alleged to have traveled to Maryland to molest and rape a 13-year-old boy she met via an Xbox Live chat room.
As the Orange County Sheriff's Department announcement on the next page shows, Rachel Ann Hicks is said to have told investigators she also preyed on a second boy, a Californian under the age of 18.
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As the Orange County Sheriff's Department announcement on the next page shows, Rachel Ann Hicks is said to have told investigators she also preyed on a second boy, a Californian under the age of 18.
Interstate Child MolestationRachel Ann Hicks, 36, of Lake Forest was taken into custody today by Orange County Sheriff's Investigators on suspicion of child molestation and rape. She is accused of having befriended a 13-year old Maryland boy on the Internet and traveling to his home and engaging in sexual relations with him.
On Jan. 4, 2011, Sheriff's Investigator Wade Walsvick was contacted by Maryland State Trooper Eric Workman. Workman reported that the initial contact between Hicks and her victim took place in September via an X-Box live chat room. The online relationship progressed to phone calls, texting, e-mails, and sending sexually explicit images and movies between each other. Hicks told the boy she was 23 years old and flew to Maryland to meet him at his home, where they engaged in sexual intercourse over the Thanksgiving holiday.
Shortly thereafter, the victim's family discovered "romantic" text messages on the boy's cell phone, and he disclosed what had occurred. Despite the use of a false name and bogus age, investigators were able to identify Hicks through the assistance of an ICE special agent. The ICE agent obtained subscriber information related to the Hicks family cell phone. Identification of Hicks was successfully accomplished by Workman, who also obtained a "no bail" warrant for the arrest of Hicks on two counts of rape, one count of a second-degree "sex offense" and one count of sexual solicitation of a minor.
On Jan. 7, 2011, investigators from the OCSD Special Victims Detail and members of (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations Child Exploitation Unit served a search warrant on Hicks' residence. During the subsequent interview, Hicks admitted to one additional minor male victim located in the state of California. Hicks was subsequently arrested without incident. All the evidence collected will be forwarded to Hanford County Sheriff's office for its investigation.
Based on new information, investigators are seeking to identify a second
possible victim, a California boy under the age of 18.
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