Hawaiian Gardens Union President Arrested On Molestation Charge

By Brian Hews

Fred Licon, the president of the Hawaiian Garden Employees Union, AFSCME Local 3426, was arrested Tuesday morning on child molestation charges, Los Cerritos Community Newspaper has learned.

Licon, 45, was arrested by the Major Crimes Unit at 8:00 a.m. on March 20 by members of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Fugitive Unit and was taken into custody. He was booked at 10:52 a.m. and released Wednesday after posting a $250,000 bond.

Licon is due in Bellflower Superior Court on April 20th for formal arraignment, according to arrest records from the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.

Licon’s Attorney Jeff Kent, said that the alleged victim is the daughter of his daughter’s boyfriend and confirmed that she is four years of age.

“Mr. Licon is anxious to prove his innocence as to this allegation, and is horrified to even be suspected of such a hideous crime,” Kent told LCCN Thursday afternoon.

Licon is an Artesia High School graduate and works as a code enforcement officer.

Hawaiian Gardens spokesman Juan Garza from the consulting firm of Englander, Knabe and Allen said that “the City is aware that one of its employees has been arrested for alleged crimes which took place off-duty.”

“The City is assessing the situation and will take appropriate administrative action. However, the City is not at liberty to publicly discuss personnel matters or information relating to an active criminal investigation,” the statement said.