Behavioral therapist sexually abused ‘severely’ disabled girl under 10, police say

Mitchell Takata is seen in an undated photo provided by the Riverside Police Department.

A behavioral therapist was arrested and charged with sexually assaulting a “severely disabled and non-verbal girl under the age of ten” who was in his care.

Mitchell Takata, 21, was still present at the girl’s home when officers arrived at the Riverside home in May 2024 to investigate reports of recent sexual abuse, according to Riverside police.

The alleged attack occurred during a therapy session with Takata, a Los Altos resident who has worked as a behavioral therapist for three years, police said.

He is accused of several charges:

• Indecent acts on a child under 14 years of age
• Attempted sexual intercourse or sodomy with a child under 10 years of age
• Attempted rape of a victim with a mental/physical disability

Takata is being held at the Robert Presley Detention Center on $1 million bail.

Given Takata’s many years of work as a therapist, during which he worked primarily with severely disabled children, the police assume that there could be more victims.

Anyone with information regarding Takata is asked to call Detective Daniel Suarez at 951-353-7120 or email [email protected].