| For Immediate Release Case # 11CF1031 February 5, 2013 |
Susan Kang Schroeder Chief of Staff Office: 714-347-8408 Cell: 714-292-2718 Farrah Emami
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MAN FACES TRIAL FOR IMPREGNATING 11-YEAR-OLD FEMALE RELATIVE AND SEXUALLY ASSAULTING HER FOR NINE YEARS
SANTA ANA – A man faces trial tomorrow for sexually abusing a female relative for nine years and impregnating her at the age of 11. Mariano Antonio Castro, 58, Santa Ana, is charged with three felony counts of lewd acts on a child under 14, three felony counts of aggravated sexual assault of a child under 14, one felony count of continuous sexual abuse of a child under 14, and sentencing enhancement allegations for substantial sexual conduct with a child and inflicting great bodily injury. If convicted, he faces a maximum sentence of 80 years to life in state prison. Opening statements are expected to begin tomorrow, Wednesday, Feb. 6, 2013, at 1:30 p.m. in Department C-28, Central Jail, Santa Ana.
Between October 2000 and October 2008, Castro is accused of sexually assaulting a female relative on a regular basis when the victim was 8 to 17 years old. He is accused of engaging in oral copulation and sexual intercourse with the victim.
When Jane Doe was 11 years old, Castro is accused of impregnating her. Jane Doe gave birth to a baby girl at the age of 12. Jane Doe kept the baby. Despite the pregnancy, the ongoing sexual abuse of Jane Doe was never reported to law enforcement.
In 2011, Jane Doe began going to a new church and confided in her pastor that Castro had impregnated her as a child. The pastor encouraged Jane Doe to report the sexual assault to the police, and Jane Doe came forward to the Santa Ana Police Department on April 19, 2011.
Deputy District Attorney Whitney Bokosky of the Sexual Assault Unit is prosecuting this case.
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