Arraignment Delayed for Menifee Man Accused of Sexual Assault on Young Girl; Bail Remains Set at $1 Million

Defense attorney Michael Schaaf represented Michael Joseph Orrantia (center) at his court appearance Thursday. Menifee 24/7 photos: Kristen Spoon

A Menifee man accused of sexual assault on a young girl made his first court appearance Thursday, but his arraignment was continued to Aug. 27.

Michael Joseph Orrantia, 19, will be represented by defense attorney Mark Cantrell, who was recently hired by the family in place of a public defender. Cantrell was appearing in another court Thursday, said Michael Schaaf, a defense attorney substituting for him. In light of those circumstances, Orrantia's arraignment at the Southwest Justice Center was rescheduled.

Orrantia faces felony charges of assault with intent to commit rape; lewd acts on a child under the age of 14; false imprisonment; and residential burglary. He is accused of entering a house in the 29000 block of Camino Cristal July 21 and assaulting a young girl before another child ran to get their mother. Orrantia, who neighbors say lives a few houses away, was taken into custody in the neighborhood soon afterward.

Bail remains at $1 million for Orrantia, who is in custody at the Southwest Detention Center. Family members of the alleged victim were in the courtroom Thursday but had no comment for the media.