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Recent Assault and Sexual Abuse Cases in Costa Mesa

Costa Mesa police responding to incidents of crime in the area.

News Summary

Two alarming incidents involving minors have arisen in Costa Mesa leading to multiple arrests. A local man was apprehended for assault with a deadly weapon during a police pursuit, while another man faces multiple felony charges for lewd acts against teenage girls. Authorities are calling for public assistance in uncovering further details and potential additional victims related to these cases, highlighting ongoing concerns around safety and juvenile protection in the community.

Costa Mesa – Two separate incidents of assault and sexual abuse involving minors have led to arrests in Costa Mesa this week, prompting local law enforcement to seek additional information from the public.

In the first case, a 20-year-old Costa Mesa man was apprehended on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon after a police pursuit in Newport Beach on Saturday, May 31. Police began their response around 5 p.m. to a report of a shooting near a business located on the 1900 block of Placentia Avenue in Costa Mesa. Fortunately, the intended victim sustained no injuries.

Authorities are still investigating the motive or circumstances surrounding the shooting incident. A few hours later, at approximately 7 p.m., officers spotted the suspect’s vehicle traveling into Newport Beach, which led to a pursuit with assistance from the Newport Beach Police Department. The pursuit concluded with a high-risk car stop near Balboa Street and 20th Street, where the suspect was detained.

Roxi Fyad, a spokesperson for the Costa Mesa Police, mentioned that the investigation is ongoing, but indicated that the shooting does not appear to be random or connected to gang activity.

In a separate case, Costa Mesa police have turned their attention to Peter Michael Mejia, a 27-year-old man from Redlands, who was arrested on Monday for allegedly committing lewd acts against two teenage girls. He has been charged with two felony counts of using an underage person for obscene acts and a single count of lewd or lascivious acts with a minor below the age of 14. In addition, he faces a misdemeanor charge for engaging in lewd acts on a child aged between 14 and 15.

Police were alerted to Mejia’s alleged actions on February 13, resulting in subsequent interviews with the alleged victims about their interactions through social media. It was reported that Mejia communicated with the victims online and picked them up in his vehicle, leading to the alleged sexual acts. Detectives are reaching out to the public to identify any potential additional victims, given Mejia’s access to young girls through social media platforms.

Individuals with further information about this case have been encouraged to contact Detective Michael Luu or Sgt. Jake Jacobi at the Costa Mesa Police Department.

Additionally, another significant case involves a 47-year-old man, Nelson Anibal Saavedra, who is facing multiple felony counts of sexual assault against two girls. The alleged incidents occurred over a span of time from 2015 to 2022. According to the prosecution, the older victim first reported the assault when she was just six years old, and she only spoke out after encouragement from her classmates at the age of twelve. The younger sister of the older victim was also allegedly assaulted by Saavedra within a similar timeframe.

It was noted that the girls’ mother did confront Saavedra following an initial report; however, she hesitated to go to the police immediately. The abuse reportedly persisted for several years before being formally reported. During police questioning, Saavedra allegedly denied the accusations and claimed that the older girl exhibited sexually aggressive behavior.

The defense has raised questions about the credibility of the child victims, citing their living conditions and the absence of forensic evidence. These cases highlight the ongoing challenges that law enforcement and the judicial system face in addressing incidents of assault and sexual abuse, particularly involving minors.