Self-Described Witch Doctor Arrested on Suspicion of Sexual Assault

Gardena - Gardena police arrested a self-described witch doctor on Wednesday on suspicion of groping at least two women or girls. Rigoberto Padilla Carranza, 53, was arrested at his Gardena business -- Productos Naturales Rigo at 2210 Marine Ave., suite A, -- as police served a search warrant there this afternoon, Gardena police Lt. Steve Prendergast said.

Carranza, who has a Los Angeles address, was booked on suspicion of sexual battery, he said. The alleged crimes occurred in the shop as Carranza was supposedly treating them for back pain or other maladies.

"They weren't rapes in the legal sense," Prendergast said.

No one answered the telephone at the shop this afternoon.

Carranza was driving a van that fatally struck a Torrance woman on May 6, 1986, but he never faced charges in the death of 53-year-old Mary McKennon, the Daily Breeze reported.

Carranza may have committed sexual crimes against other women, and Prendergast urged anyone with more information to call Detective Richard Reynaga at (310) 217-9639.