Charges filed against man accused of sexually assaulting Indio High School student

Criminal charges were filed today against a 29-year-oldIndio man suspected of sexually assaulting an Indio High School student.

Robert Jose Curiel Jr. was charged with sexual battery and falseimprisonment, both felonies, and is scheduled to be arraigned this afternoon atthe Larson Justice Center in Indio. He was being held at the county jail inIndio in lieu of $25,000 bail.

The student had an ongoing cellphone and social networking relationshipwith Curiel, and the two met for the first time on the morning of May 21 near aCarl’s Jr. restaurant just east of Indio High School, according to the IndioPolice Department.

Curiel allegedly sexually assaulted the youth while the two were insideCuriel’s vehicle, and the victim was able to get away after suffering minorinjuries, according to police.

Curiel was arrested in Indio on Tuesday near in the area of Burr Streetand Fred Waring Avenue in Indio.