Defense asks to delay DHS porn ring trial
A defense lawyer told a judge today he needs more time to prepare for the trial of a Coachella Valley man accused with three others in connection with an alleged child molestation and pornography ring.
A jury trial was scheduled to begin today for John David Yoder, 43, of Desert Hot Springs, and Erick Alan Monsivais, 30, of Los Angeles. Instead, a hearing will be held Tuesday to discuss the request for a postponement.
Yoder and Monsivais are named — along with William Clyde Thompson of Las Vegas and Noland Anthony Harper of Richmond, Virginia — in a 59-count indictment alleging lewd acts on a child, human trafficking, sexual assault, conspiracy and other charges.
In a 34-page filing, Yoder’s attorney, John Patrick Dolan, asked that the start of testimony be delayed until Jan. 11. Defense lawyers are still poring through 70 hours of audio and video
evidence, 500 pages of emails and thousands of pages of interview, preliminary hearing and grand jury transcripts, Dolan wrote.
Dolan also cited prosecutors’ recent disclosure that they were seeking to cut a plea deal that could result in Harper testifying against Yoder and Monsivais.
Also according to the filing, prosecutors informed defense attorneys they were considering calling a confidential jailhouse informant, who allegedly communicated with Yoder in a local lockup and has information about “solicitation of murder accusations.”
No charges have been filed against either defendant for solicitation of murder and no other information about the allegations were disclosed.
Yoder is being held in lieu of $750,000 bail and Monsivais on $1 million bail.
Harper and Thompson are in federal custody and it is unclear when the pair will make their initial court appearances in Riverside County. Prosecutors said there are at least 10 alleged known underage victims, though investigators suspect there may be more.
The District Attorney’s Office filed felony sex-related charges against the men in February. While a preliminary hearing for Yoder was underway in Indio, consuming multiple days of testimony, prosecutors opted to take the case before a grand jury, culminating in the indictment.
An arrest declaration filed by the District Attorney’s Office alleges Yoder was witnessed molesting a 12-year-old special-needs boy, over whom he had been made guardian. Court papers allege the boy shared a bed with the defendant and was compelled to engage in sexually exploitative activity.
In one instance, Yoder was allegedly seen fondling the youth as the two sat together in a recliner, and on another occasion, Yoder ate potato chips off the child’s crotch, according to the declaration.
Until his arrest, Yoder was a licensed foster care provider and a special education assistant instructor for the Palm Springs Unified School District.
Prosecutors allege the defendants are prolific child pornographers and abusers.
Court papers allege they operated a child porn ring that was in existence for at least three years. Thompson was characterized as the alleged ringleader, making trips to the Coachella Valley from his Las Vegas home and allegedly connecting with Monsivais and Yoder to find prospects.
In a video played during Yoder’s preliminary hearing, an 11-year-old boy alleged he had posed shirtless and barefoot during modeling sessions arranged by the defendants in exchange for cash, cellphones and high-end scooters.
The defendants would gather at Yoder’s home and spend time at a local skate park, where they solicited children to pose for photographs and videos, according to investigators.
Earlier Report:
A former licensed foster parent and public school aide charged with child molestation wants his case moved back to the Larson Justice Center in Indio, where the case was originally filed before being transferred to Riverside in April.
A hearing on the motion filed on behalf of John David Yoder is set for July 17.
“The convenience of witnesses, jurors, the interested public and the ends of justice would be promoted by the change of venue to the Larson Justice Center,” defense attorney John P. Dolan wrote. “The Riverside court is only convenient to the deputy district attorney whose office is near that court.”
Yoder, 43, of Desert Hot Springs, and Erick Alan Monsivais, 29, of Los Angeles, are each named — along with William Clyde Thompson of Las Vegas and Noland Anthony Harper of Richmond, Virginia — in a 59-count indictment alleging lewd acts on a child, human trafficking, sexual assault, conspiracy and other charges.
Yoder is being held at the Robert Presley Jail in Riverside in lieu of $750,000 bail. His attorney has requested the bail be reduced, and a hearing on that matter is set for July 13.
Monsivais is being held at the Southwest Detention Center in Murrieta on $1 million bail, and Harper and Thompson are in federal custody. It’s unclear when the pair will make their initial court appearances in Riverside County.
Prosecutors allege there are at least 10 alleged known underage victims, though investigators suspect there may be more.
The District Attorney’s Office filed felony sex-related charges against the men in February. However, after a preliminary hearing for Yoder was well underway in Indio, consuming multiple days of testimony, prosecutors opted to take the case before a grand jury, culminating in the indictment.
An arrest declaration filed by the D.A.’s office alleges Yoder was witnessed molesting a 12-year-old special-needs boy, over whom he had been made guardian. Court papers allege the boy shared a bed with the defendant and was compelled to engage in sexually exploitative activity.
In one instance, Yoder was allegedly seen fondling the youth’s privates as the two sat together in a recliner, and on another occasion, Yoder ate potato chips off the child’s crotch, according to the declaration.
Until his arrest, Yoder was a licensed foster care provider and a special education assistant instructor for the Palm Springs Unified School District.
Prosecutors allege the defendants are prolific child pornographers and abusers.
Court papers allege they operated a kiddie porn ring that was in existence for at least three years. Thompson was characterized as the alleged ringleader, making trips to the Coachella Valley from his Las Vegas home and allegedly connecting with Monsivais and Yoder to find prospects
In a video played during Yoder’s preliminary hearing, an 11-year-old boy alleged he had posed shirtless and barefoot during modeling sessions arranged by the defendants in exchange for cash, cellphones and high-end scooters.
The defendants would gather at Yoder’s home and spend time at a local skate park, where they solicited children to pose for photographs and videos, according to investigators.
