Dad catches autistic son’s therapist molesting him in boy’s room, CA officials say
A father caught his autistic son’s behavioral therapist molesting him during a session inside the boy’s room at their home, California prosecutors say.
Now, Salvador Armando Arriaga, 32, who was employed by Behavioral Health Works in Anaheim, has been charged with “one felony count of a lewd and lascivious act on a child under the age of 14,” the Orange County District Attorney’s Office said in a May 28 news release.
Behavioral Health Works did not immediately respond to McClatchy News’ request for comment on May 29.
“Mr. Arriaga is entitled to a fair trial and the presumption of innocence,” Jacqueline Goodman, Arriaga’s attorney, told the Orange County Register. “We are thoroughly investigating and will address all charges in court, where facts, not prejudicial narratives, should prevail.”
Arriaga was at the boy’s Garden Grove home for a behavioral therapy session on Sept. 18, as he had done on several occasions before, prosecutors said.
While the boy’s father cared for another child in the living room, Arriaga held his session inside the boy’s bedroom, according to prosecutors.
The conversation coming from the boy’s room stopped, and the father grew concerned, prosecutors said.
He went to check on his son but didn’t see the two when he entered the room, prosecutors said.
“When he opened the door of the walk-in closet, he found his son with his pants down and the boy’s therapist on his knees with his head near his son’s lap,” prosecutors said.
After the father confronted Arriaga, he tried to flee through the bedroom window, then ran out the door, prosecutors said.
The father called Garden Grove police, prosecutors said.
Arriaga returned to the home after prosecutors say he changed his shirt
He was arrested on a count of “suspicion of lewd act on a child,” according to prosecutors.
Garden Grove police continued investigating the incident and gathered further evidence that led to Arriaga’s criminal charging, prosecutors said.
Arriaga is also facing “an allegation that he went into the child’s home with the intent to molest him,” prosecutors said.
Arriaga, who is being held on $1 million bail, could face 25 years to life in prison if convicted as charged, according to prosecutors.
Anyone with information about Arriaga is asked to contact Garden Grove Police Department Detective Sindy Orozco at 714-741-5872, or email sindyo@ggcity.org.
This story was originally published May 29, 2025 at 11:29 AM with the headline "Dad catches autistic son’s therapist molesting him in boy’s room, CA officials say."
