SAN ARDO — San Ardo resident Angel Rojas Lugos, 43, was found guilty on March 15 by a Monterey County jury of two counts of oral copulation on a child 10 years old or under and 14 counts of forcible lewd or lascivious acts on a child under 14 years of age.
All 16 of the charges are violent felonies and are considered “strikes” under California’s Three Strikes law.
Jane Doe reported that Lugos, a family member, molested her many times over a two-year period. Doe was under 10 years old at the time the molestation began.
Doe stated she waited to report the molestation because she was afraid she would get in trouble and that she would not be believed.
“At trial, Jane Doe bravely testified about the repeated instances of molestation that occurred,” stated the Monterey County District Attorney’s Office in a news release. “An expert in the psychological effects of child sexual abuse also testified that delayed disclosures of molestation are incredibly common due to numerous factors including: the power imbalance between the perpetrator and victim, threats to not say anything, fear, and even affection for a perpetrator if he/she is a close family member, friend, or authority figure.”
The case was investigated by Detective Rosy Silva and other deputies from the Monterey County Sheriff’s Office and District Attorney Investigator Pablo Andrade. The victim in this case was assisted by District Attorney Victim Advocate Estella Sanchez.
Judge Jennifer O’Keefe, who presided over the trial, will sentence Lugos on April 27. He faces a maximum of 170 years to life in prison and will be required to register as a sex offender for life.
