A 37-year-old Southern California man, Stephen Delacruz, was sentenced to 30 years in state prison for the rape and sexual abuse of his younger sister, a case tracing back to his actions when he was a teenager. Delacruz, who faced eight felony charges, admitted to three counts of forcible rape, three counts of forcible oral copulation, and two counts of sexual penetration by a foreign object, with the victim confirmed to be under 18 at the time of the crimes, as reported by KTLA.
The ordeal for the victim, identified by the pseudonym Samantha J., began when she approached the Oxnard Police Department in 2019 revealing the abuse that took place in 2001 and 2002—this prompted an initial filing of charges against Delacruz in juvenile court due to his age at the time of the offenses, he was just 14 and 15, however, Senior Deputy District Attorney Erik Nasarenko pushed his case to be transferred to adult court citing the actions involved "significant sophistication and planning" and were "especially violent and severe," according to a statement obtained by Ventura County District Attorney’s office.
Legislative changes in 2022 amended transfer criteria for juvenile cases to adult court, demanding "clear and convincing evidence" that a minor isn't fit for rehabilitation within the juvenile system. This development warranted another hearing for Delacruz where a Ventura County judge, responding to the "horrendous" nature of the allegations, sanctioned the case's move to adult court, as reported by KTLA.
Before a jury trial could commence, Delacruz pled guilty to all counts. "Samantha demonstrated great resiliency and determination as she fought for justice and accountability in this case," remarked Nasarenko, hailing her bravery for confronting her brother with a victim impact statement during the sentencing, as detailed by Ventura County’s Communications Manager/PIO, Joey Buttitta in a press release available here.
