Eagle River man charged with child sexual abuse

Victor Esparza Jr., 37, was arrested Tuesday night after two girls, ages 4 and 5, told detectives sexually explicit tales of their time locked in his bedroom while they were supposed to be playing with his kids, according to police.

Then, after the girls' mother discovered them adjusting their clothes in the room with Esparza on Tuesday, their 8-year-old sister came forward with allegations of abuse, claiming that Esparza molested her some time ago and that she stopped going to his apartment because of it, according to an affidavit filed in court.

Now police are wondering if there are more victims.

"That's the scary part," police Lt. Dave Parker said. "You have a guy living in an apartment building and kids who come to their house to play -- we just shudder with the possibilities."

According to the affidavit, the girls didn't promptly return from Esparza's apartment in the 16900 block of Hanson Drive in Eagle River on Tuesday night so their mother went over and knocked on the door, which one of Esparza's children answered.

Their mother asked where everyone was, and the child pointed to the bedroom, according to documents filed in court. The bedroom door was locked and didn't open for more than one minute after she knocked, according to the documents.

When it did, the woman told police, she saw Esparza shirtless, lying on the bed, and one of her daughters adjusting her crooked clothes, pulling her shirt down over her pants. The mother asked Esparza why it took so long for the door to open and he said he had to move a pile of clothes that was blocking it, the documents say.

As she towed the girls home, Esparza followed, saying, "It's not what it looks like," according to documents.

Under police questioning, Esparza maintained his innocence, claiming they had been watching a movie and he didn't know the door was locked. He said the girls' mother showed up talking about them being naked but that they were dressed, the documents say.

Police, however, say the children gave consistent stories, complete with graphic details, when separately interviewed.

"You have the independent corroboration there," Parker said. "If the kids didn't come up with it independently, then they would be really cautious about moving forward like that."

Physical examinations also turned up evidence of molestation, and detectives are awaiting the results of DNA testing, Parker said.

According to court records, Esparza has been convicted of 14 crimes in Alaska, including four felony charges of assault, damaging property, vehicle theft and larceny. None of the cases involved a sex crime.

At his first court hearing Wednesday, Esparza said little as Judge Brian Clark held his bail at $30,000 cash. But as Clark reminded the defendant he was not permitted contact with the victims, Esparza let out a short sigh as he shook his head.

Find James Halpin online at adn.com/contact/jhalpin or call 257-4589.