| For Immediate Release Case # 06CF0648 October 2, 2009 |
Susan Kang Schroeder Public Affairs Counsel Office: 714-347-8408 Cell: 714-292-2718 Farrah Emami |
GRANDFATHER SENTENCED TO 18 YEARS IN PRISON FOR MOLESTING TWO GIRLS UNDER THE AGE OF 7 ON SEPARATE OCCASIONS WHILE BABYSITTING THEM
SANTA ANA – A grandfather who offered babysitting services for neighborhood children was sentenced today to 18 years in state prison for molesting two young girls. Octavio Reyes Cortez, 63, Orange, pleaded guilty on Sept. 30, 2009, to six felony counts of lewd acts upon a child under 14.
In March 1995, Cortez began babysitting 4-year-old Jane Doe #2 at his home in Orange. Over the next two years, Cortez repeatedly molested Jane Doe #2 on several occasions while babysitting her at his home and at the home of the victim. The sexual assaults included sexual penetration and sexual intercourse and continued until April 1997, when Cortez moved out of the area. The crime was not reported at this time.
On Feb. 8, 2006, Cortez was babysitting his granddaughter and her 7-year-old friend Jane Doe #1, while the girls were playing at his home. Cortez instructed his granddaughter to complete to chores in another room. The defendant waited for his granddaughter to leave the room and then sexually assaulted Jane Doe #1 by touching her vagina. The next day, the victim told her mother about the sexual assault, who reported the crime to the Orange Police Department (OPD). On Feb. 27, 2006, Cortez was arrested and charged for molesting Jane Doe #1.
In early March 2006, during the course of the investigation into Cortez’s sexual assault against Jane Doe #1, Jane Doe #2 came forward to police.
Deputy District Mark Birney of the Sexual Assault Unit prosecuted this case.
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