Public’s Help in Molestation Cases Urged

Police investigating separate child molestation allegations against an Oxnard elementary school district maintenance worker and a Ventura retiree asked Thursday for the public’s help in determining whether the men may have abused other young girls.

The alleged molestations occurred when the girls, ages 7 to 11, visited the suspects’ homes, police said. Both men are awaiting arraignment.

Allen Kirk Zeitzmann, a 39-year-old maintenance worker with the Oxnard School District who was also an unsuccessful candidate in last year’s Port Hueneme City Council race, is set to be arraigned this afternoon on charges that he molested three girls between 9 and 10 years old, said Det. Jerry Beck of the Port Hueneme Police Department.

Prosecutors are considering filing a six-count indictment against Zeitzmann, officials said.

Marvin “Bud” Trull, a 62-year-old Ventura resident, is set to be arraigned Monday on charges that he molested four girls between 7 and 11 years old at his Omaha Avenue home, said Det. Gary McCaskill of the Ventura Police Department.

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The cases are similar only in that authorities in both instances believe the suspects may have molested other children and are asking for the public’s help in identifying other alleged victims.

Neither man is a registered sex offender or has any recent local convictions for child molestation, authorities said.

In Zeitzmann’s case--because of his work at the school district--and in Trull’s case--because his home is near several small day-care centers--authorities fear there might be other alleged victims.

“We don’t want anyone to panic,” Beck said. “But we just think it prudent that we let people know about the arrest in case there are any more victims out there.”

There have never been any complaints against Zeitzmann, who has worked for the district for nine years, said Kent Patterson, an associate superintendent for the district.

So far, administrators have not notified parents in the district about Zeitzmann’s May 23 arrest.

State law requires the district to place Zeitzmann on compulsory leave without pay as soon as he is arraigned, Patterson said.

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Zeitzmann’s job mostly consisted of fixing school equipment at the district’s facility and maintenance office on C Street, but he was also sent to one of the district’s 16 campuses for repair projects such as fixing key locks, plumbing and carpentry, district officials said.

He had very little if any contact with children, officials said.

At least one colleague appeared surprised by the charges against Zeitzmann.

“I thought he was OK,” said a longtime maintenance worker who asked that his name not be used.

Beck said that the alleged incidents with Zeitzmann, who is single, all occurred at the 90-unit city-owned Seaview Apartment complex on Seaview Avenue in Port Hueneme where he lived. All the alleged victims were the children of neighbors, he said.

None of his neighbors would comment Thursday on Zeitzmann, a 35-year city resident who ran unsuccessfully for a seat on the City Council last year. The Libertarian barely campaigned for office and came in last in a field of six candidates with just 727 votes.

Zeitzmann’s arrest came after three young girls separately told their teachers of the molestation that allegedly occurred at Zeitzmann’s home earlier this month, Beck said.

After his arrest, detectives obtained a warrant to search his apartment where officers recovered “evidence that corroborates the charges,” Beck said.

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A man who answered Zeitzmann’s phone Thursday afternoon would not identify himself and said he would not comment on the alleged molestations.

Melvin Miscikowski, 72, who attends Mary Star of the Sea Catholic Church with Zeitzmann, said he was a good man.

“He always seemed real nice,” Miscikowski said. “He did a lot of volunteer work at the church.”

In the Ventura case, investigators allege that four young girls were lured to Trull’s home on separate occasions because he allowed them to play with his dog. He also fed the girls lunch and watched movies with them, said McCaskill.

“We believe this is something that has been going on for a long period of time,” he said.

Trull, who is out on bail, said Thursday that he was innocent.

“I don’t know what they consider molestation these days,” he said. “It seems if you look at them cross-wise they could call it that. But I can say there was no physical penetration or nothing of that sort.”

Neighbor Frank Arbizu, who has lived on Omaha Avenue near Trull for 28 years, said that there were a lot of rumors flying about, but that he had no direct knowledge of Trull doing anything wrong.

“I’m not going to speculate on something I really don’t know about,” he said. “He seems like a good neighbor. I guess I’ll just have to wait and see what happens in court to make any sort of judgment.”

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Investigators said they “have a real good case” against Trull, who was arrested May 8.

“We’re just wondering if there are more victims out there,” said McCaskill. “I mean we sort of combed the immediate neighborhood and found four, so there very well may be more.”

Investigators searched Trull’s home after his arrest and seized several pieces of evidence that they say indicate that the molestations occurred. Police would not elaborate on what they found.

Anyone with information on the Ventura case is asked to contact Ventura Police Det. G.M. Young at 339-4470.

Anyone with information on the Port Hueneme case is asked to contact Beck at 986-6534.

Hadly is a Times staff writer and Hong is a correspondent. Correspondent Nick Green also contributed to this story.