A 38-year-old transient accused of secretly recording patrons inside the restroom of a Starbucks coffeehouse in Lancaster, among other locations, pleaded not guilty Monday to 19 criminal counts, including possession of child pornography.
Antonio Serrano, also known as Juan Antonio Lizardi, faces three counts of possession of child or youth pornography, two counts of second-degree commercial burglary and one count each of counterfeit seal and identity theft — all felonies. The criminal complaint also lists a dozen misdemeanor charges, including trespassing and invasion of privacy.
Serrano was ordered back to court on July 30, when a date is expected to be set for a hearing to determine whether there is sufficient evidence to proceed to trial.
Prosecutors said the video recordings were made between May 1 and July 16 and were not limited to the Starbucks restroom. Four adults and four minors were videotaped in restrooms at the Starbucks, Chuck E. Cheese, Olvera Street and an Antelope Valley mall, according to the District Attorney’s Office.
On July 9, a child discovered a cell phone taped to the pipe lining of a sink in the women’s restroom at the Starbucks in the 800 block of West Avenue K. Detectives recovered a photo of the suspect from the phone and arrested Serrano later that day, authorities said.
Serrano had additional cell phone and SIM cards in his possession at the time of his arrest, according to the Sheriff’s Department, which put out a call for additional alleged victims to come forward.
If convicted as charged, Serrano faces a maximum sentence of 17 years and four months in prison. Bail was set at $175,000.
— City News Service