Joseph Michael Hishmeh to be Arraigned Today for Alleged Sex Acts with 2-year-old Girl

A 21-year-old Garden Grove man is scheduled to be arraigned this morning for sexually assaulting and committing lewd acts upon a 2-year-old girl.

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Joseph Michael Hishmeh is scheduled to stroll into the West Justice Center in Westminster at 10 a.m. this morning to face one felony count of sexual penetration with a child 10 years or younger, five felony counts of lewd acts upon a child under 14, and a sentencing enhancement allegation for committing substantial sexual conduct with a child.

If convicted, Hishmeh faces up to 31 years to life in state prison, according to an Orange County District Attorney's office (OCDA) statement that indicates he is being held on $1 million bail.

The FBI uncovered evidence of Hishmeh committing lewd acts upon the girl in his home between April 30-Sept. 1, 2014, according to the OCDA, whose Deputy District Attorney Bobby Taghavi told City News Service the defendant was acquainted with the girl's family.

Hishmeh touched the girl on her breasts, vagina and legs under her clothes with sexual intent and, on one occasion, he digitally penetrated her vagina, prosecutors allege. Following an FBI investigation with the Orange County Child Exploitation Task Force, Hishmeh was arrested Feb. 9 at his home in Garden Grove.

The OCCETF–which is comprised of members from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's Homeland Security Investigations; Orange County Sheriff's Department; FBI; United States Postal Inspection Service; and Newport Beach Police Department–investigates Internet-related crimes against children and crimes involving the possession, production and distribution of child pornography.

Email: mc****@oc******.com. Twitter: @MatthewTCoker. Follow OC Weekly on Twitter @ocweekly or on Facebook!