Accused Lake Elsinore Child Molester Ordered To Stand Trial

A martial arts instructor accused of molesting three girls during private lessons must stand trial on a dozen felony charges, a judge ruled today.

Albert George Williams, 63, of Lake Elsinore could face life in prison if convicted of nine counts of lewd acts on a child under 14 years old, two counts of oral copulation of a minor and one count of witness intimidation.

Following a preliminary hearing at the Southwest Justice Center in Murrieta, Riverside County Superior Court Judge Dennis McConaghy ruled there was sufficient evidence to bound Williams over for trial on all counts.

McConaghy set a post-preliminary hearing arraignment in the case for June 17 and left the defendant's bail at $3 million.

Williams is being held at the Southwest Detention Center.

The defendant was arrested last Nov. 3 following an investigation into his alleged contact with an 8-year-old girl, whose identity was withheld, at his house in the 15600 block of Laguna Avenue.

"The investigation revealed that the victim ... was taking a Taekwondo lesson from Williams in a garage. It was learned that during one of these private classes, Williams sexually molested the victim," sheriff's Sgt. Todd Pauling alleged.

The defendant was interviewed and booked into jail the same day.

According to the criminal complaint, two additional alleged victims were identified within a couple of weeks of charges being filed in connection with the 8-year-old.

The complaint alleges that one girl, identified only as Jane Doe #2, was molested in January 2011, while a second girl, identified only as Jane Doe #3, was also molested later that same year.

Williams has no prior convictions in Riverside County, according to court records.

—City News Service