Moreno Valley School Board Member Charged With Rape, Pimping, Attempted Murder
MORENO VALLEY (CBS) — A Moreno Valley Unified School District board member was charged Thursday with 11 felonies, including pandering, pimping and rape by force.
Mike Luis Rios, 41, was arrested when Moreno Valley police pulled over his vehicle near his home on Palm Shadows Drive.
Rios is charged with six counts of pandering, three counts of pimping and two counts of rape by force or fear.
An investigation by the Riverside County District Attorney's Office shows that Rios tried to get four women and two underage girls to work as prostitutes.
He told at least one woman that he was a member of the Moreno Valley school board and asked her if she needed a job, according to police. Another woman answered an Internet advertisement for a job.
Authorities said Rios offered the underage girls the use of his home and car if they would work as prostitutes for him.
Rios also has a second pending criminal case, in which he has been charged with two counts of attempted murder and assault with a deadly weapon, one count of witness intimidation and other weapons allegations.
He pleaded not guilty to the charges in connection to the Feb. 13 shooting in front of his home.
According to Sgt. Walter Mendez, Rios told investigators that he had an argument with two men at a nightclub that later followed him home, leading to another altercation.
"During the confrontation, Mr. Rios alleged one of the male subjects, brandished a weapon, and fired at him," Sgt. Mendez said. "The suspects fled the area in a compact vehicle."
In a follow-up investigation, officers questioned the alleged assailants, whose story contradicted Rios'. Following a second interview with Rios, investigators found enough evidence to arrest him, according to Mendez.
A felony settlement conference in that case is scheduled for April 29.
