A 59-year-old man faces 740 years to life in prison after being convicted of 35 counts of child sexual abuse, the district attorney’s office announced Thursday.
Antonio Hernandez was found guilty on multiple charges of sexual intercourse and oral copulation with a child under the age of 10 and lewd and lascivious acts with a child under the age of 14.
Prosecutors said the molestation began when the child was 7 and continued for seven years. The victim reported the abuse to authorities in October 2023, according to the district attorney’s office.
“The sheer bravery of this young survivor in standing up to their abuser is nothing short of heroic,” District Attorney Ron Freitas said in a statement. “And because of their courage, this predator will never have the opportunity to harm another child.”
The case was investigated by the Stockton Police Department. Sentencing is set for Feb. 24 in San Joaquin County Superior Court.
“If you prey on the most vulnerable among us, we will find you, we will prosecute you and we will ensure that you are removed from society forever,” Freitas said.