43-year-old woman accused of sex acts with a 12-year-old boy, her preteen son's friend

Patricia Ann Serrano, 43-year-old woman from Orange County, California, has been accused of engaging in sex acts with a 12-year-old boy, her son's friend.

Serrano of Fountain Valley was arrested Tuesday after the mother of the victim alerted authorities about suspicious behavior between Serrano and her son. Serrano was caught in a locked bathroom with the boy during a Halloween party hosted by his parents. The victim's mother didn't observe physical contact between the two, but according to authorities, Serrano had been kissing the boy. Authorities later found out that Serrano and the victim had sexual relations at least twice: once in her apartment and once in her car.

Serrano knew the victim because he was a friend of her own preteen son.

Serrano is charged with three felony counts of lewd acts on a child under 14, according to a press release from the Orange County District Attorney's office. She faces a maximum of 12 years in prison, and she's currently being held on $100,000 bail.

Serrano's apartment had been a popular hangout for other children in the community, and prosecutors fear there may be more victims. Anyone with more information is encouraged to call Supervising District Attorney Investigator Lou Gutierrez at (714) 347-8794 or Fountain Valley Police Department Detective Jesse Hughes at (714) 593-4480.