Crime & Safety

RivCo Music Teacher Suspected In Multiple Child Sexual Assaults: Police

Officers served warrants Thursday, arresting Omar Garcia Herrada on suspicion of assaulting two young children and more victims are sought.

Omar Garcia Herrada
Omar Garcia Herrada (Riverside County Sheriff's Department)

WOODCREST, CA — A Riverside County music teacher is under arrest on suspicion of molesting two young children, and additional victims are being sought, according to the Riverside County Sheriff's Department investigators.

On Sunday, October 18, 2026, deputies from the Lake Elsinore Sheriff’s Station responded to a residence in the La Cresta area of Riverside County regarding the report of inappropriate contact between a music teacher and two young children, according to Sgt. Jim Peters.

"Due to the nature of the investigation, the Riverside County Sheriff’s Office - Special Victims Unit was contacted and assumed the investigation," Peters said.

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Investigators identified the suspect as Omar Garcia Herrada, a 54-year-old Woodcrest resident and professional music teacher.

"On Thursday, October 29, 2026, Special Victims Unit investigators, with the assistance of the Lake Elsinore Sheriff’s Station Investigation Bureau, investigators from the Major Crimes Unit, and the Computer and Technology Crime High-tech Response Team, served a search warrant in the 14000 block of El Mesa Drive, Woodcrest, where Herrada was located and taken into custody without incident," Peters said.

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Herrada was booked at the Robert Presley Detention Center and is being held on pending sexual assault and child sexual abuse charges. He is awaiting a court date Monday at the Murrieta Southwest Justice Center.

"This is an ongoing investigation, and no further details are available at this time," Peters said, adding that investigators believe there are more victims of Herrada.

The Riverside County Sheriff’s Office Special Victims Unit believes there may be additional victims and encourages anyone with information about this investigation to contact Master Investigator Schell at (951) 955–1704 or Sheriff’s Dispatch at 951–776–1099.

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