An Ojai man has been convicted on multiple felony charges related to child molestation, according to the Ventura County District Attorney's Office. Steven Wayne Bower, born March 22, 1970, faced three counts of lewd acts upon a child, with the jury also affirming several special allegations against him. The case, which has been ongoing for nearly a decade, came to a close when Bower was found guilty of sexually abusing two young children on multiple occasions.
The disturbing incidents took place beginning in 2003, involving two victims who were approximately five and nine years old at the time. Bower molested the children twice during camping trips and once while babysitting. Addressing the jury's decision, Senior Deputy District Attorney Melissa Suttner emphasized that Bower's conviction was greatly owed to the persistence and courage of the victims and their families, who endured almost ten years to finally see justice served. "Despite the unimaginable pain and delay, they never gave up hope," Suttner said in a statement obtained by the Ventura County District Attorney's Office.
Bower, who was a family friend of both victims' parents, is scheduled to be sentenced on November 12, 2024. He currently remains in custody at Ventura County Jail without bail. The conviction could result in a sentence of up to 45 years to life in state prison. The special allegations found true by the jury include substantial sexual conduct and there being multiple victims, which may influence the ultimate sentence handed down by the court.
Joey Buttitta, Communications Manager/PIO for the Ventura County District Attorney's Office, released the official statement on September 25, 2024, detailing the conviction and the charges against Bower, including substantial sexual conduct and jurisdiction by Ventura County. In sharing the news, the hope is that this outcome will bring some comfort and healing to those affected. "We are grateful the jury held the defendant accountable, and we hope this decision brings some measure of closure and healing to those affected," said Suttner.
For further information and to view the official press release, the District Attorney's Office has made the document available on the Ventura County District Attorney's website.
