Temecula Man, 20, Suspected of Unlawful Sex with Underage Victims

Editor's Note: This story was modified at 11:25 am. Dec. 28 to include clarifiction from police on the legal definition of "unlawful sex with a minor."

A 20-year-old Temecula man posted $155,000 bail Thursday after he was arrested by Murrieta police in connection with alleged unlawful sexual intercourse with five underage victims on separate occasions.

Murrieta police Sgt. Robert Anderson said detectives with the Murrieta Police Juvenile Investigations Unit on Wednesday took Brian Gordon Burns into custody on suspicion of nine felony counts of sexual intercourse with a minor, one felony count of sexual intercourse with an unaware or unconscious victim, two felony counts of oral copulation with a minor and one felony count of sexual intercourse with a victim under the influence. 

The victims Burns is suspected of violating range in age from 15 to 17 years old, Anderson said, in a news release Thursday.

Anderson pointed out that under the law—Penal Code section 261.5(a)—anyone younger than 18 can not consent to sexual intercourse.

"California law defines this as 'unlawful sexual intercourse or 'rape,'" Anderson said.

"Several of these incidents occurred after parties in which the eventual victim was intoxicated," the sergeant said. "The incidents, which were just recently reported, began approximately two years ago and occurred multiple times."

A search of Riverside County Superior Court records revealed formal District Attorney's charges have yet to be filed in the case against Burns.

Meanwhile, Murrieta police are continuing their investigation, Anderson said.

Anyone with information regarding the allegations was asked to call Detective John Martin at 951-461-6737. Tips can also be provided anonymously through “We Tip” at 1-800-78-CRIME.