KTLA

Man Convicted of Molesting 9-Year-Old Boy at Puente Hills Mall

Richard Camarena is shown in a booking photo released by LASD July 25, 2016.

A 45-year-old man who was working at Downtown Disney when he sexually molested a 9-year-old boy at a Puente Hills Mall bathroom was convicted in the incident Monday.

Richard Camarena is shown in a booking photo released by LASD July 25, 2016.

Richard Matthew Camarena of Claremont entered a no contest plea to one felony count of lewd act upon a child, the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office announced.

He entered a locked stall in the mall bathroom into which the victim had gone after seeing a movie with his family, according to the DA’s office. Camarena touched the child inappropriately and left after the boy struggled with him.

The boy reported the July 8 incident to his family, who contacted law enforcement.

Camarena was arrested July 23, two days after the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department published a surveillance photo of a person of interest.

A person of interest being sought after a boy was sexually assaulted at Puente Hills Mall is seen in an image provided by the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department on July 21, 2016.

After his arrest, Camarena was placed on administrative leave from his job at Downtown Disney next to Disneyland pending the resolution of the investigation, a Disney Resort spokesperson said last month.

He no longer works for the company.

Camarena is expected to face three years in state prison and lifetime sex offender registration, the DA’s office said.

His sentencing is scheduled for Aug. 31 in Pomona.

33.994515-117.928445