MOUNTAIN VIEW — South Bay authorities are asking for the public’s help in finding a Mountain View barber who skipped bail on criminal charges that accuse him of being a serial sexual predator who preyed on men and likely drugged several of his victims.
Franklin Enrique Sarceno Orla, 34, was charged Aug. 21 with two felony counts of sexual assault and was out of jail custody after posting $250,000 bail, according to court records and the Santa Clara County District Attorney’s Office.
His last scheduled court hearing was Oct. 29; authorities say Sarceno Orla has fled the area. He could face life in prison if convicted of the charges currently filed against him.
“There was a sexual predator in our community,” District Attorney Jeff Rosen said in a statement. “With the help of courageous victims, investigators and the public we will soon have him in custody to keep him from ever hurting anyone again.”
According to prosecutors and Mountain View police, Sarceno Orla drew attention from law enforcement after a man told police that he woke up injured and woozy after having drinks with the defendant in July.
Investigators later confirmed through forensic testing that the man had been sexually assaulted. Another man reported separately to police that he had lost consciousness while drinking beers with Sarceno Orla, who the man identified as his barber.
At least one of the reported victims in the charged crimes was transported to another location while unconscious, authorities say, meaning that Sarceno Orla could also be charged with kidnapping.
Police also allege that an examination of Sarceno Orla’s electronic devices during the criminal investigation yielded evidence suggesting that he attacked at least 20 men dating back to 2018 and that he recorded video of some of the acts. Authorities are encouraging potential victims to come forward to police and emphasize that their identities will remain anonymous in the public record.
“The men appeared to be unconscious and/or intoxicated during the assaults,” the district attorney’s office said in a news release. “Police are currently in the process of identifying these victims and perhaps others.”
Anyone with information about Sarceno Orla can contact the Mountain View Police Department at 650-903-6618 or email Detective Lauren Riffel at [email protected] or Detective Guillermo de Lira at [email protected].
