By G. T. Houts
Lake Arrowhead, CA – On Friday, October 6, 2017, deputies from the Twin Peaks Station responded to the victim’s residence regarding an inappropriate touching of a child call. When deputies arrived they spoke to the victim and her parents.
The victim, a 9 year old female, told deputies she was spending the night at a friend’s house in the 27000 block of Peninsula Drive, and was touched inappropriately by her friend’s father, James Stauffer, 4o years old, of Lake Arrowhead. Stauffer came into the bedroom, where the victim and her friend were sleeping, and touched her several times during the incident. The incident was stopped when the victim’s friend woke and yelled at Stauffer to stop, Stauffer then exited the room. The victim and her friend alerted the friend’s mother and the victim called her parents to pick her up.
Deputies contacted and interviewed all parties involved. After completing their initial investigation, deputies placed Stauffer under arrest for PC 288(A), Lewd and Lascivious Acts with a Child under 14 years old. Stauffer was transported and booked into the Central Detention Center. He is being held in lieu of $250,000 bail. Stauffer is scheduled for arraignment on Wednesday, October 11th, in Central Superior Court.
Anyone with information regarding this case, or other possible victims, are urged to contact Deputy William Zerbe or Detective Eric Trujillo at the Twin Peaks Station, (909) 336-0600 or We Tip 1-800-CRIME.
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