Mountain View barber accused in dozens of sex crimes captured in Guatemala

(KRON) — A 34-year-old Mountain View barber charged with sexually assaulting unconscious victims fled the United States while on bail in 2024. On Friday, police announced Franklin Enrique Sarceno Orla was captured in Guatemala and has been extradited to the Bay Area.

Orla was booked into Santa Clara County Jail on Thursday and faces 46 counts with more than 60 victims, according to the Mountain View Police Department. Before fleeing the U.S., he had been formally charged by the Santa Clara County District Attorney’s Office for the sexual assaults of two men, including one who was kidnapped.

One of the victims reported to police in July 2024 that he had lost consciousness, and when he woke up, he was injured from a sexual assault, according to investigators. A second victim told police that he had lost consciousness while getting drinks with Orla, who was his barber.

Orla was initially arrested in the case in August 2024 and posted $250,000 bail. On Nov. 20, 2024, the DA’s office announced that Orla was on the run.

Evidence seized by authorities showed that Orla videotaped many of the sex crimes, according to the DA’s office. The victims appeared to be unconscious or heavily intoxicated during the assaults, prosecutors said.

The Mountain View Police Department said multiple international agencies were instrumental in Orla’s capture and extradition, including the U.S. Marshals Service, the Santa Clara County District Attorney’s Office, the U.S. Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service, the U.S. Embassy in Guatemala and Guatemalan authorities, and the Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs.