'HANGOUT' HOST, 50, FACES 92 CHARGES.Byline: Ryan Oliver Staff Writer A man whose garage was widely known by area teenagers as a hangout hang·out n. Slang A frequently visited place. Noun 1. hangout - a frequently visited place haunt, stamping ground, resort, repair where drugs, alcohol and cigarettes were available, was charged with molesting over a dozen minors in a five-year period, authorities said Tuesday. Peter Castillo, 50, of Agoura Hills, CEO (1) (Chief Executive Officer) The highest individual in command of an organization. Typically the president of the company, the CEO reports to the Chairman of the Board. and founder of a small talent agency, faces arraignment A criminal proceeding at which the defendant is officially called before a court of competent jurisdiction, informed of the offense charged in the complaint, information, indictment, or other charging document, and asked to enter a plea of guilty, not guilty, or as otherwise permitted Friday in Malibu Superior Court on 92 criminal counts. ``He offered them drugs, alcohol and cell phones,'' said Sgt. Dan Scott ''This article or section is being rewritten at Daniel "Dan" Robert Scott is a fictional character on the television show One Tree Hill played by Paul Johansson. ''I should apologize. But I won't. with the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department This article is about the Los Angeles County Sherriff's Department, not to be confused with the smaller Los Angeles County Police The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department (LASD) is a local law enforcement agency that serves Los Angeles County, California. . ``In exchange for this, he was exploiting them for sexual gratification.'' A district attorney's spokeswoman said Castillo is being held on $2.7 million bail for allegedly molesting children, filming them in pornography and providing them with marijuana, alcohol and cigarettes. Twenty-one victims, mostly boys, are listed in the complaint. Spokeswoman Sandi Gibbons Famous people named Gibbons include:
Neighbors say teenagers frequented the house Castillo shared with his mother on the 5540 block of Rocktree Drive. ``He seemed to be the guy who would dress like N'Sync, and would wear his pants low and trying to be one of the kids,'' a neighbor said. ``He really tried to live that young life he definitely wasn't a part of.'' Another neighbor said she rarely saw Castillo. Most of the time he stayed in his garage, which she said was full of video equipment. ``There was constantly young people coming around ... whatever he did, he didn't do it out in the open.'' Scott said the investigation into Castillo began in March when at least one person came forward with sexual abuse allegations. ``He was preying on children,'' Scott said. ``The lure was the freedom of his house. There were no rules there. Most children grow up under rules, and this was a chance to get away from that structure. ``When you offer that kind of freedom, they're going to jump on it.'' Many of the children remained silent after the abuse occurred because they knew they were doing something wrong in the first place, he said. Castillo also operated a business out of the same garage registered under the name Hero International. On its semi-completed Web site, www.heroamerica.com, the company bills itself as a multifaceted talent, modeling and fashion agency. In an interview with www.roadtripamerica.com, Castillo describes the business as catering toward ``urban youth.'' He said he also had created a foundation for youths interested in the arts. A former bartender at the upscale Beau Rivage The Beau Rivage is a waterfront casino in Biloxi, Mississippi, USA. It is owned and operated by MGM Mirage. Beau Rivage was rebuilt and re-opened a year after Hurricane Katrina (see details below). The Beau Rivage hotel is currently the tallest building in Mississippi. restaurant in Malibu said Castillo was often there trying to get customers to invest in his business. ``He was always trying to mooch mooch Slang v. mooched, mooch·ing, mooch·es v.tr. 1. To obtain or try to obtain by begging; cadge. See Synonyms at cadge. 2. To steal; filch. v.intr. 1. off people and get free drinks,'' Mario Vitale said. ``After you see him a couple times, you realize he's just a creep.'' ``He came around to the restaurant six times, and I finally kicked him out and told him to never come back again. He was bothering the customers.'' Ryan Oliver, (818) 713-3669 ryan.oliver(at)dailynews.com |
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