Twentynine Palms woman charged with forcing children to engage in sex acts with each other

brandi-alma-valadez

A Twentynine Palms woman was charged with sexually abusing children Thursday – as police say she forced them to commit lewd acts on each other while she watched.

Brandi Alma Valadez, 40, faces six felony charges: two counts of lewd acts on a child under 14, two counts of forcible lewd acts on a child under 14 and two counts of child abuse, with a sentencing enhancement for multiple victims, reports KTLA.

Police arrested Valadez in Twentynine Palms on Wednesday, but she has also lived in other cities.

Valadez is accused of forcing a boy, under the age of 10, into sexually assaulting a girl under the age of seven while she watched.  She was also allegedly aware that another boy, under the age of 13, had committed sexual acts on the girl.

Authorities say that Valadez sexually assaulted the girl and physically and mentally abused the children.

The children knew the suspect and she was in a position of trust, reports the OC Register.

The crimes took place in 2014 – with police becoming aware of the accusations after two of the children told family members in February.  The family members then called the police.

Valadez faces a maximum sentence of life in state prison if convicted.

Image: Orange County District Attorney