An Oxnard man has been found guilty on several charges of child sexual abuse, Ventura County District Attorney Erik Nasarenko confirmed on August 2, 2024. Omar Cruz-Hernandez, the defendant, was convicted of seven felony counts that included engaging in sexual intercourse with a child under ten, forcible rape, lewd acts upon a child, and continuous sexual abuse of a child. According to a press release from the DA's office, the jury also found it true that Cruz-Hernandez assaulted multiple victims.
First responded to on June 23, 2023, by detectives, reports of child sexual abuse led to this conviction, where one victim reported having been abused since she was ten years old. Deputy District Attorney Michael Kern, part of the county’s Sexual Assault Unit, laid out the case against Cruz-Hernandez, who had gained access to his victims through a familial relationship, as the investigation would reveal. The exact details of the sensitive testimony were not disclosed out of respect for the privacy and well-being of the victims, but the jurors, after assessing all facts, rendered what the DA's office has called a just verdict.
With the defendant facing up to 150 years and 8 months to life in prison, hopes for the victims' healing process have been cautiously raised. "I am grateful to the Oxnard Police Department for their quick response and thorough investigation in this case," Kern said. "I am also thankful to the jurors in this case who listened to sensitive and difficult testimony and rendered a just verdict. While this conviction cannot undo the damage the defendant inflicted upon these innocent victims, it will go a long way in their healing process, knowing that their abuser has been held accountable for the crimes he committed against them."
The scheduled sentencing for Cruz-Hernandez is on August 28, 2024, at the Ventura County Superior Court. Remaining without bail, Cruz-Hernandez waits in custody to learn the exact measure of time that the court deems proportionate to the crimes' weight. For inquiries on the case, Joey Buttitta, the Communications Manager/PIO for the Ventura County District Attorney's office, has been made available as the main point of contact. Information garnered from the office has underscored the commitment to justice for the victims, whose lives, irrevocably changed by the actions of one they knew, now face the promise of vindication through the legal system.
