San Diego County Registered Sex Offender Charged Under New Chelsea’s Law
A San Diego sex offender with a long criminal past was arraigned in court under Chelsea’s Law on suspicion of child molestation.
Joseph Cantorna, 55, who pleaded not guilty, was charged with four felony counts of committing lewd acts on a minor. The incident occurred on Sunday morning, September 12 on Cherry Road in Lakeside when two boys who had been riding their bikes stopped for a break. Cantorna allegedly approached the 7 and 9 year old and inappropriately touched them.
The mentally disordered sex offender from Lakeside has a criminal past dating back to 1973. He had been living in a group home for the past several years in close proximity to where the allegations are being made. “Cantorna never should have been allowed in that neighborhood, in that home, walking the area freely and doing what he did on Sunday,” said Kent Kopperud, a nearby resident.
Cantorno is the first San Diego sex offender to be charged under Chelsea’s Law which was signed into effect on September 9 by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger. The new law has stricter penalties for sex offenders of San Diego sex crimes involving children. Bail has been set at $1 million by Judge Herbert Exarhos.
Mentally disordered sex offender has long criminal history, KFMB 8, September 16, 2010
First offender in county charged under Chelsea's Law, Sign on san Diego, September 15, 2010
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