A 39-year-old man has been charged with sexually assaulting a 5-year-old girl at a wedding reception in Valencia, the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office announced.

Deputy District Attorney Ani Bailey said Jeff Boulter (dob 1/7/79) of Long Beach faces one felony count each of kidnapping to commit oral copulation, kidnapping for child molesting, kidnapping victim under age 14, lewd act upon a child, forcible lewd act upon a child and attempted forcible oral copulation of victim under 14 years.

Boulter pleaded not guilty to the charges today and is scheduled to return on July 31 in Department S of the Los Angeles County Superior Court, San Fernando Branch. Case PA091028 was filed on May 22.

Boulter allegedly dragged the victim to a dark corner on May 19, the prosecutor said. A server at the wedding noticed the alleged assault and confronted the defendant who then fled, the prosecutor added.

If convicted as charged, Boulter faces a possible maximum sentence of life in state prison. Bail is set at $1 million.

The case remains under investigation by the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department, Santa Clarita Station.

Los Angeles District Attorney /Case PA091028 / June 28, 2018