SAN DIEGO — A 72-year-old man accused of molesting a 5-year-old girl back in 2017 was arraigned in downtown San Diego Thursday afternoon.
According to the San Diego District Attorney's Office, Chester Yang has been a fugitive for the past five years. The DA's office said he fled to Taiwan and authorities in Taiwan refused to extradite him back to San Diego.
In May, Yang moved to Singapore and authorities there arrested him. He was flown back to San Diego and booked into jail December 13.
During his arraignment, Yang pleaded not guilty to three counts of performing sex acts on a child. A judge ordered us not to show his face in court over potential identity issues.
The DA's office said the alleged crimes happened at a church on the University of San Diego campus in April of 2017.
According to Singapore media, the 5-year-old child was attending a wedding rehearsal with her mother at the time. Yang allegedly took the victim to a corner of the church and committed lewd acts on her. Yang admitted to having contact with the girl, but said it was not sexual in nature.
According to prosecutors, Yang wasn't even supposed to be around children. He was convicted of molesting a different child back in 2001. He is a registered sex offender.
The judge ordered Yang be held without bail. If convicted, he faces 100 years to life behind bars.
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