VENTURA, Calif. — A Santa Paula man will spend nearly three decades to life behind bars after being convicted of continuously molesting a young child over a six-year period, public safety officials announced Monday.
The extensive prison sentence was announced by Ventura County District Attorney Erik Nasarenko following court proceedings in Ventura County Superior Court.
The defendant, identified as 42-year-old Jaime Torres (born May 25, 1984) of Santa Paula, was sentenced to serve 29 years to life in California state prison. The formal sentencing follows a criminal trial where a Ventura County jury found Torres guilty on all felony sexual assault charges on June 24, 2026.
Years of Abuse Hidden Behind a Position of Trust
According to trial testimony and official court summaries released by the District Attorney's Office, the sexual abuse occurred continuously between 2012 and 2018.
During those six years, Torres repeatedly molested a young female victim who was under the age of 14. Investigators established that Torres was well known to the victim and shared residences with her at various times in both Oxnard and Santa Paula. Torres utilized his familial access and household presence to isolate the child and perpetrate the ongoing abuse.
The young victim endured the trauma for years before finding the strength to come forward in 2019, disclosing the abuse to a trusted family member. That disclosure prompted an immediate law enforcement investigation, leading to criminal filings by county prosecutors under case number 2020033595.
Jury Verdict and Aggravating Factors
Following a full jury trial, Torres was convicted of multiple severe felony offenses under the California Penal Code:
- PC 288.5: Continuous Sexual Abuse of a Child (Felony)
- PC 269(a)(1): Aggravated Sexual Assault of a Child (Felony)
- PC 288(c)(1): Lewd Acts Upon a Child (Felony)
In addition to finding Torres guilty on all primary criminal counts, the jury found two special aggravating sentencing factors to be true under the California Rules of Court (CRC):
- CRC 4.421(a)(3): The victim was particularly vulnerable due to her young age and circumstances.
- CRC 4.421(a)(11): The defendant took advantage of a position of trust or confidence to commit the offenses.
Senior Deputy District Attorney Ben Moreno, a member of the District Attorney’s Office Sexual Assault Unit who led the prosecution, praised the survivor for her immense resilience throughout the long legal journey.
"This defendant was entrusted with protecting a child but instead betrayed that trust in the most unconscionable way," stated Senior Deputy District Attorney Ben Moreno following the sentencing hearing. "Today’s sentence is a just consequence for that betrayal. I applaud the victim for the extraordinary courage and strength she has shown throughout this process, and I hope this sentence brings her the justice and closure she so profoundly deserves."
Victim Advocacy and Community Support Resources
Prosecutorial units and child defense advocates emphasize that long-term sexual abuse cases require extensive trauma-informed care and specialized support services for young survivors and non-offending family members.
Local organizations across Ventura County provide confidential counseling, crisis intervention, medical support, and court accompaniment for victims of sexual assault and domestic violence:
- Ventura County Family Justice Center: (805) 652-7655 | vcfjc.org
- Coalition Family Harmony Crisis Line: (800) 155-2000
- Interface Children & Family Services: (800) 636-6195 | icfs.org
- National Sexual Assault Hotline (RAINN): Call 1-800-656-4673 or chat online at rainn.org
For additional questions regarding this case, media contacts can reach out to District Attorney Communications Manager Joey Buttitta at (805) 767-3400 or via email at Joey.Buttitta@venturacounty.gov.
For more information, official press statements are available on the Ventura County District Attorney's Office newsroom.