Man arrested on suspicion of committing lewd acts

COSTA MESA -- Police arrested a 23-year-old Costa Mesa man Sunday

on suspicion of committing lewd acts with three girls, ages 11, 14 and 15

years old, officials said. Dammian Martise Fletcher was arrested about 5

p.m. Sunday after an 11-year-old girl told police that he grabbed her and

forcibly took her with him into a women’s restroom after she swam in the

community pool at her apartment complex in the 2700 block of Peterson

Place, police said. The girl, whose name was not released, told officers

that Fletcher took her into the restroom and then kissed her on the mouth

and fondled her, police said. While investigating the incident, officers

were contacted by two other girls, ages 14 and 15, who alleged Fletcher

had kissed, touched and solicited them for sex over the last three to

four weeks, said Costa Mesa Lt. Dale Birney. He said Fletcher and the

girls live in the same apartment complex and that he had known them for a

while, although it is uncertain for how long. On Sunday, the 11-year-old

girl was swimming in the pool with Fletcher and was possibly even talking

with him, Birney said. ‘We have reasons to believe we have one victim

outstanding,” he said. ‘The girls told us there was one other girl who

was [victimized] who had recently moved to Florida.” Investigators are

trying to track down the girl to get more information, Birney said.

Fletcher is being charged with committing lewd acts with a child,

forcible lewd acts with a child and child annoyance. The Orange County

district attorney is also filing the above charges. The first two

offenses are felonies while the third is a misdemeanor. Fletcher could

face a maximum of up to 17 years in prison. He is being held in Orange

County jail with bail set at $100,000.

* Deepa

Bharath covers public safety and courts. She can be reached at (949)

574-4226 or by e-mail at [email protected].