A West Sacramento man who prosecutors say repeatedly sexually abused two young relatives when they were children has been ordered to spend decades behind bars, after an emotional hearing where victims told the court how the abuse still shapes their lives.
Enrique Urbina Mendoza was sentenced in Yolo County Superior Court to a 12-year determinate prison term followed by an indeterminate 25-years-to-life term. The punishment followed victim statements about the lasting harm they suffered.
A jury found Urbina Mendoza guilty in October 2025 on two counts of continuous sexual abuse of a child and acquitted him on seven counts alleging lewd and lascivious acts, according to The Sacramento Bee. Prosecutors said the victims were relatives, that the abuse took place when the children were between 7 and 11 years old, and that he groomed and repeatedly sexually abused them.
In a news release cited by The Sacramento Bee, Yolo County District Attorney Jeff Reisig said Urbina Mendoza “took advantage of his position of trust within the family to sexually abuse multiple generations of vulnerable children.” At sentencing, one victim told the court that “the pain will never leave,” according to the outlet’s reporting.
What the Charge Means Under California Law
California Penal Code section 288.5 defines continuous sexual abuse of a child as a pattern of three or more sexual acts with a child under 14 over at least a three-month period. The law classifies the crime as a serious, strike-eligible felony and requires significant prison terms and lifetime sex-offender registration. For the statute text and penalty details, see Justia.
Prosecutors’ Account and What Comes Next
Prosecutors said the sentence reflects both the length of the abuse and what they describe as a profound betrayal of family trust. The Yolo County District Attorney’s Office announced the sentencing in a news release and said Urbina Mendoza will be transferred to state prison. As of that announcement, no additional filings or appeals had been publicly posted.
