In what the courts have called a painful betrayal of trust, Santa Rosa man Ambrosio Leiva-Moreno, 32, has been sentenced to a harrowing 36 years behind bars for the heinous act of sexually assaulting a child. According to the Sonoma County District Attorney, the crimes, deemed unforgivable by many, were perpetrated against a 12-year-old child for whom Leiva-Moreno was supposed to be a responsible and trusted adult figure.
In a statement that captures the gravity of this travesty, District Attorney Carla Rodriguez was quoted as asserting via the Office of the District Attorney's press release, "The 36-year prison term is entirely appropriate given the irreparable harm inflicted on a young child by Mr. Leiva-Moreno." She expressed a hopeful sentiment that this sentence could to some measure offer solace to the victim, who must now navigate forward on a path marred by betrayal.
The judgment passed down by the Honorable Laura Passaglia came after Leiva-Moreno pleaded guilty to various forcible sexual assault offenses back in September. Before passing the sentence on November 15, Judge Passaglia took the time to listen to an impact statement made by the victim, a testament to the agony confronted, read aloud not by the victim themselves but by an advocate.
Details made public reveal that there were to be found two separate incidents where Leiva-Moreno exploited his privileged relationship with the child to commit these vile acts. To fully grasp the implications of his time in prison, Judge Passaglia expressed her hope to the defendant that he was listening and understanding fully the damage his actions had done.
The case, led by Deputy District Attorney Ashley W. Hendon, saw Detective Matt Sanchez of the Santa Rosa Police Department spearhead an investigation that would end Leiva-Moreno's opportunity to do further harm.
