Irvine man who molested children is denied parole

An Irvine man who kidnapped and raped a child and molested two others was denied parole this week, according to prosecutors.

Drew David Lambert, 32, was sentenced to 15 years to life in August 1996 and is serving his sentence at California Correctional Institution in Tehachapi.

In a news release, Orange County prosecutors said Lambert approached a 6-year-old girl in the children’s section of a Laguna Niguel bookstore and used a children’s book to lure her to the men’s restroom, where he assaulted her, according to the Daily Pilot.

Lambert was 16 years old at the time. He was also convicted of assaulting two other girls, ages 6 and 7, who were playing in the arcade section of a Laguna Niguel restaurant while their parents ate, according to the release.

He is next eligible for parole in 2016.

ALSO:

Full coverage: 'Occupy' protests

Seal Beach shooting: D.A. expects an insanity defense

San Jose hot dog vendors held on weapons, drug charges

L.A. schools need billions in facilities upgrades, report finds

-- Lauren Williams, Times Community News