OC Man Charged with 5 Felony Counts of Molestation: Family Court and CPS Ignored Reports for Years
Orange County Family Court Crisis
Originally published on Newsbreak.
A troubling pattern of systemic failures within Orange County’s family court and child protective services has once again come to light. An Orange County man, Frank Mogavero, was arrested on October 17, 2024, and charged with five felony counts of committing lewd acts upon a child under the age of 14, along with one felony count of possessing child pornography (Case #24HF2035). Yet, this shocking arrest comes after years of ignored warnings and dismissed evidence by Orange County Family Court, CPS, OCDA and other authorities.
A Mother’s Fight to Protect Her Children
Records obtained reveal that Mogavero’s ex-wife, Anna, began raising alarms in 2020 after discovering disturbing evidence of abuse. Anna repeatedly reported allegations to Orange County CPS, the Sheriff’s Department (OCSD), local law enforcement, and the Orange County District Attorney’s Office (OCDA). Instead of action, she was met with indifference. Responses ranged from “It’s up to the DA” to “Take it up with family court.”
Court filings and whistleblowers paint a chilling picture of Anna’s ordeal. One whistleblower disclosed that Anna was threatened to remain silent or face severe consequences in family court. Her multiple attorneys reportedly discouraged her from presenting evidence of abuse in family court, warning that she could be labeled a “parental alienator.” This fear-driven strategy is one echoed by numerous Orange County parents in similar situations.
Family Court’s Role in Enabling Abuse
In Anna’s family court case (Case #20D004659), judges in‐ cluding Perez, Gaffney, De La Cruz, Torres, and Thomas J. Lo presided over key decisions. In 2022, court appointed custody evaluator Dr. Thea Reinhart dismissed Anna’s mounting evidence—including proof of child pornography, firsthand accounts from children, documents from Mogavero's ex wife, and testimonies from Anna’s collaterals. Instead, Reinhart submitted a report recommending Mogavero receive sole legal and physical custody, even while acknowledging the prior molestation allegations against him.
Reinhart’s conduct raised red flags. Allegations surfaced that she diverted conversations about abuse to unrelated sexual topics, including inappropriate questions about Anna’s personal life. Despite these glaring issues, her recommendations were upheld by Judge Thomas J. Lo, who later stripped Anna of custody entirely during a June 1, 2023 hearing. Notably, this decision and others were made off the record, without testimony, cross-examination, or evidence submission.
Authorities Finally Act—Years Too Late
In July 2024, OCSD contacted Anna to apologize, admitting they had failed to act on her earlier reports. Mogavero’s arrest followed in October, and on October 21, Judge Torres awarded Anna sole legal and physical custody. By December 5, the OCDA announced the charges publicly, and Senior Deputy District Attorney Juliet Oliver is now prosecuting the case.
Despite these developments, systemic failures persist. On December 9, 2024, Mogavero was released on $250,000 bail with conditions, including a no-contact order and a GPS ankle monitor. The next hearing is set for January 14, 2025.
A Pattern of Corruption in Orange County Courts
This case is not an isolated incident. Reports of Orange County Family Court’s mishandling of abuse cases are rampant. A recent investigation into family court Judge Israel Claustro revealed alleged conspiracies with a doctor to defraud the state’s workers' compensation program. These revelations underscore a broader pattern of judicial misconduct and systemic neglect, leaving countless victims vulnerable.
Dr. Joan Meier’s research on family court outcomes has long highlighted these failures. Cases involving child abuse, sexual abuse, and domestic violence are routinely dismissed, with protective parents accused of alienation. Social media is rife with accounts echoing Anna’s tragic experience, calling into question the integrity of Orange County’s family court system. Explore additional related articles:
OC judge allegedly conspired with doctor who defrauded state workers’ comp program
Whistleblowers reveal corruption in Orange County family courts and beyond
California Family Courts: Dr. Joan Meier Exposes Bias and Systemic Failures
Demand for Accountability
Anna’s case exposes a stark reality: systemic failures within Orange County’s courts, CPS, and law enforcement have placed children at risk for decades. As more cases like Mogavero’s come to light, public outrage is mounting. National attention is urgently needed to demand accountability and reform in Orange County’s family court system.
The public must ask: How many more children must suffer before systemic change is prioritized? The time for action is now.
Julie M. Anderson-Holburn is a California-based investigative journalist reporting on family court corruption, judicial abuse, and systemic failures. Her work has appeared in NewsBreak, Substack, the Center for Judicial Excellence, The Family Court Circus and National Safe Parents. She believes that exposing the truth is the first step to reform.
Whistleblowers and victims of family court, CPS, probate court, foster care corruption within the US, please contact this reporter at juliea005@proton.me.
This article is made possible by donations from readers like you and can be made here. Thank you for your support!
Related coverage from California and Arizona:
CENSORED FOR SPEAKING OUT: OCDA Deleted Public Comments During Its Own Crime Victims Rights Ceremony
OC Court Delays for 10 Months—Then Demands $4,240 for One Public Record
Keshel threatens to investigate judge over pending family-court cases
04/14/2025 - Joint Legislative Ad Hoc Committee on Family Court Orders
EXCLUSIVE: The Paralegal Pretenders of Orange County — A Hidden Threat in Family Court
Orange County’s Justice Meltdown: Judge Carmen Luege’s Unlawful Orders and Due Process Violations
OCDA Ignores Good Cause Law, Family Court Violates Due Process in Tawny Minna Grossman Case
Judicial Misconduct in OC? Judge’s Threats Against Mother Over Media Coverage Become Reality
Weaponized Gag Orders: How an OC Judge Is Silencing a Quadriplegic Mother’s Fight for Justice
Orange County Judges Block Public and Media from Court Hearings
Update: “Tar’s Road to Recovery” Mom Bullied by OC Minors’ Counsel in Fight Over Special Needs Trust
OC Judge’s Orders Lead to Premature Birth: Baby Sahara Fights for Life
California Judges: The Good, the Bad, and the… San Joaquin County, Part Two
Welcome to Unveiled and Uncensored: Investigating Family Court Corruption
Links to other OC prominent cases and additional reading:
State of the Nation 2012 Report
OC Supervisors Settle Lawsuit Alleging Social Services Did Not Report Child Sex Abuse
U.S. SUPREME COURT RE‐ JECTS ORANGE COUNTY’S CHALLENGE TO $4.9 MILLION LAWSUIT
Fox 11 Reporter, Producer Mar‐ tin Burns Dies in Hiking Accident
OC Weekly: LAWMAKERS OK CHILD PROTECTIVE SER‐ VICES AUDIT REQUEST PARTLY SPARKED BY OC CASE: UPDATE
OC Weekly’s Coverage on Ruby Dillon’s Custody Battle
Filed 6/14/10 Fogarty-Hardwick v. County of Orange CA G039045
Attorney Unveils Suit Alleging Cover-up of Disgusting Child Abuse by DA, County Agency
Voice of OC: Problems in OC Child Welfare System Get Statewide Scrutiny
Voice of OC: OC Child Protec‐ tion Agency Under Fire
Lexi Dillion Case: What Caused an Expert To Change His Mind?
Court Trafficking of Jonah Reef & Lexi Dillion gets national at‐ tention, exposes corruption
JUDGES REJECT ORANGE COUNTY’S CLAIM THAT SO‐ CIAL WORKERS DIDN’T KNOW LYING IN COURT WAS WRONG
Judge Lo? He's worthless - he won't look at evidence.
Maybe you would like to comment on how family courts routinely destroy men, every day. Children are given to their mothers and fathers are denied custody and visitation. State courts are incentivized to impose maximum child support on men, as they recieve matching funds by the feds.
Arguably the most egregious case was when Jeff Younger's ex-wife brainwashed her son into thinking he was really a girl, starting when the boy was three years old. The mother legally kidnapped the boy and moved him from Texas to California, where a judge gave the mother the green light to chemically castrate the boy, while denying Jeff ANY access to his son.
Are you a feminist that is only concerned about women and children?