Security guard catches DJ molesting 12-year-old boy at California mall, officials say
A DJ molested a 12-year-old boy he met through his work at a virtual reality gaming store, California prosecutors say.
Haifeng Cai, 37, of Irvine, was charged with multiple felonies stemming from the incidents involving a boy he met at OdysseyVR at the Irvine Spectrum, the Orange County District Attorney’s Office said in Jan. 7 news release.
In an online statement, Irvine Spectrum officials said they “are fully supporting” law enforcement, adding that Cai is banned from the shopping center and that they’ve ended the store’s lease.
Given the store’s 30-day termination clause, the store will close no later than early February, mall officials said.
OdysseyVR did not immediately return McClatchy News’ request for comment on Jan. 8.
An Irvine Spectrum security guard called police Dec. 14 after he “saw a man and a boy in the backseat of a vehicle with the windows fogged up,” prosecutors said.
Through evidence, prosecutors said police learned the man, identified as Cai, touched “the boy inappropriately on three separate occasions.”
Cai was charged with three felony counts of committing lewd and lascivious acts with a child under the age of 14 years old, according to prosecutors.
“This is an incredibly vulnerable victim who sought out belonging and instead of a trusted mentor, he found himself in the arms of a parents’ worst nightmare,” District Attorney Todd Spitzer said in the release.
Cai is being held on $1 million bail, prosecutors said.
If convicted on all counts, Cai could face a maximum 12-year prison sentence, prosecutors said.
Anyone with information about Cai is asked to contact Irvine Police Detective David Misko at 949-724-7168 or dmisko@cityofirvine.org.
Irvine is about a 45-mile drive southeast from Los Angeles.
This story was originally published January 8, 2025 at 12:10 PM with the headline "Security guard catches DJ molesting 12-year-old boy at California mall, officials say."
