Trigger Warning: The article contains mention of child abuse. Reader discretion is advised.
A father found out that his autistic son’s therapist was molesting him during their session at their Garden Grove home. The therapist, named Salvador Armando Arriaga, is 33 years old and works at Behavioral Health Works in Anaheim. He has been charged with “one felony count of a lewd and lascivious act on a child under the age of 14,” as the Orange County District Attorney’s Office said on May 28.
Till May 29, there has been no comment from Behavioral Health Works. Salvador Armando Arriaga’s lawyer, Jacqueline Goodman, however, has given a statement and told the Orange County Register, “Mr. Arriaga is entitled to a fair trial and the presumption of innocence. We are thoroughly investigating and will address all charges in court, where facts, not prejudicial narratives, should prevail.”
Dad catches autistic son’s therapist molesting him in boy’s room, CA officials say https://t.co/jYv3S0YruV
— Fort Worth Star-Telegram (@startelegram) May 30, 2025
Salvador Armando Arriaga was at the student’s home for his therapy session. The 14 year old’s father was in the next room, taking care of another of his children. However, when the next room got quiet, the father felt suspicious and came to check on the teacher with his son.
As per the prosecutors, when he entered the room, he could not find either his son or Arriaga. However, “When he opened the door of the walk-in closet, he found his son with his pants down and the boy’s therapist on his knees with his head near his son’s lap,” the prosecutors mentioned further.
After this, the father naturally tried to confront the therapist but he tried to get away through the window and then ran away using the door. According to the prosecutors, Arriaga came back to the home again but only after he had changed his shirt. Garden Grove Police have been investigating the case and have found further evidence that solidifies the charges against Arriaga, as mentioned by the prosecutors.
Prosecutors also said that Arriaga is “facing an allegation that he went into the child’s home with the intent to molest him.” The therapist is now “being held on $1 million bail, could face 25 years to life in prison if convicted as charged, according to prosecutors” as reported by The Sacramento Bee.
As the investigation and the case are still in progress, it now remains to be seen what the final verdict is regarding Arriaga.
