An Oxnard man has been found guilty of multiple counts of child molestation, encompassing years of abuse against two children who were under the age of 14 at the time the crimes began. Marcelino Arias Arca, aged 68, was convicted by a jury in Ventura County on six felony charges of lewd acts upon a child, according to an announcement by District Attorney Erik Nasarenko.
The crimes took place across various locations from 2005 to 2014. Arca's past includes a prior child molestation conviction from 1988, and the jury also found that there were multiple victims involved in this case. The abuse surfaced years later when the victims confided in family members whom they trusted. Arca, who had familial access to the children, admitted to the additional special allegations concerning his previous conviction.
Senior Deputy District Attorney Ben Moreno, who took up the case, praised the victims for their courage. "I applaud the two victims for their extraordinary courage in coming forward and facing their abuser," Moreno said, according to the district attorney's statement. "Because of their bravery, this defendant will never again have the opportunity to harm a child."
With a hefty sentence on the horizon, Arca is expected to face 480 years to life in prison. The sentencing is scheduled for April 7, 2025. "Although today’s verdict cannot undue the harm the defendant caused, I hope it gives the victims the closure they so desperately deserve,” added Moreno.
