Investigators on Monday said they were continuing to look into allegations that a Santa Clarita City Council candidate raped two under-aged girls after buying them alcohol earlier in the day and then texting them to come to his apartment.

The Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office said it would not file any charges against Johnny Pride, 26, of Valencia, until police investigate the accusations further.   

“We believe more investigation is needed for more evidence,” said spokeswoman Jane Robison. “I can’t give you further details, because this is a pending investigation.”

Robison said no criminal charges have been filed by the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office against Pride in the past.

Pride was arrested Thursday on suspicion of rape, lewd conduct with a minor, sodomy, oral copulation of a minor and contributing to the delinquency of a minor. Deputies released him from jail on Saturday after prosecutors rejected the charges.

Pride did not return phone calls on Monday seeking comment.

His father, Gerald Scarpitta of Yuma, Ariz., said on Monday he did not want to comment on his son’s recent brush with the law.

Sgt. Dan Scott with the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Special Victims Unit said detectives are still on the case.

“This is an ongoing investigation, and we are doing what the (District Attorney’s Office) wants us to do,” Scott said on Monday. “We anticipate refiling the case with the DA again. We are looking into the possibility of DNA. Sexual assault exams were done and possible DNA could be retrieved.”

Scott said Pride provided alcohol to the two teens on Thursday, and then the girls went to a park and drank it with friends.

“Later in the day, (Pride) sent a text (to the girls) to come to his apartment, which they did. We have independent witnesses confirming they were in the apartment,” Scott said.

Scott said the girls told detectives they were raped and other sex acts were committed.

He added authorities didn’t know Pride was a City Council candidate when he was arrested.

“We are continuing our investigation and will be conducting further interviews. We are not interested in him being a City Council candidate and I don’t believe the (arresting officers) knew he was a council candidate,” Scott said. “We are only interested in finding the truth.”

Pride, a model, an actor and a businessman, had participated just hours earlier that day at a candidates’ forum at a Santa Clarita Valley Chamber of Commerce luncheon.

He is one of 11 candidates vying for three open seats in the April 13 election.

While the arrest won’t keep Pride from continuing to run for City Council, Santa Clarita City Clerk Sarah Gorman said on Monday that he had missed the March 4 deadline to file the required campaign disclosure forms for the upcoming council race.

Pride was required to file all campaign contributions and expenditures beginning Jan. 1, 2010 through Feb. 28, 2010.

“A candidate must file form 460 if (that figure) is over $1,000 or form 470 if under $1,000. (Pride) did not file that form,” Gorman said.