Entertainer Minh Beo’s suspected sexual assault causes shock on social media

Scott Schwebke/OC Register

A Vietnamese entertainer known for his comedic work in the community with children is making waves across the ocean after he was arrested in Garden Grove on suspicions of sexually assaulting a boy.

Vietnamese entertainer Minh Quang Hong, 38, who goes by the stage name Minh Beo, was charged Friday with one count each of oral copulation of a minor, attempting to commit a lewd act upon a child under the age of 14, and meeting with a minor with the intent to engage in lewd conduct. (Orange County District Attorney)

Minh Quang Hong, 38, who goes by the stage name Minh Beo, was charged Friday with one count each of oral copulation of a minor, attempting to commit a lewd act upon a child under the age of 14, and meeting with a minor with the intent to engage in lewd conduct.

Hong was detained by police around 6 a.m. Thursday after leaving a home near the area of Brookhurst Street and Orangewood Avenue in Garden Grove. He was then interviewed at Garden Grove police headquarters and subsequently arrested.

If convicted on all felony charges, Hong would face a maximum sentence of five years and eight months in state prison and mandatory lifetime sex offender registration, the Orange County District Attorney’s Office said in a statement.

He is being held in the Orange County jail in lieu of $1 million bail and is due to be arraigned April 15.

Hong is accused of orally copulating a boy on March 23, when the victim arrived for an audition, according to prosecutors.

The boy reported the incident to Garden Grove police, who launched an investigation.

The next day, an undercover Garden Grove officer posing as a minor under the age of 14 communicated with Hong, prosecutors said. Hong is accused of attempting to set up a meeting with the officer with the intent of committing a sexual assault and was subsequently arrested, according to prosecutors.

Prosecutors described Hong as a well-known Vietnamese entertainer with access to children. A Vietnamese Wikipedia page lists Hong as an actor, comedian and stage director.

At the time of the alleged offense, Hong had traveled from Vietnam to Orange County and was scheduled to also visit Atlanta.

http://www.ocregister.com/articles/hong-710045-prosecutors-grove.html