Assemblyman's aide accused of molesting 12-year-old boy

LOS ANGELES (AP) -- An arrest warrant has been issued for a 61-year-old assemblyman's aide who allegedly molested a 12-year-old boy.

Howard L. Brooks of Quartz Hill was still outstanding late Thursday but is expected to surrender as early as Friday, law enforcement authorities said.

The Antelope Valley businessman has been a field representative since spring for Assemblyman Phil Wyman, R-Tehachapi. Messages left for Wyman at his state capitol and Tehachapi offices late Thursday were not returned.

Brooks is accused of committing lewd acts on a child, continuous sexual abuse, and possession of child pornography, said county prosecutor Rouman Ebrahim. The abuse allegedly occurred between March and November 2000.

A telephone listing for a Howard Brooks in Quartz Hill had a recording saying the number had been disconnected. There were no other listings.

The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department Family Crimes Bureau began investigating Brooks after he allegedly sent a sexually explicit letter to an inmate at California State Prison in Sacramento, the prosecutor said.

"It talked about sexual conduct with young boys," prosecutor Ebrahim said, adding that the "pen-pal type" letter was intercepted by prison officials.

Authorities believe there may be more victims and are extending their investigation to include boys who belonged to the Antelope Valley YMCA, where Brooks served as director during the 1980s.

The warrant was issued Tuesday.