A Redwood City man hired as a private tutor for a child is headed to state prison for three years after pleading no contest to a child molestation charge, according to San Mateo County prosecutors. The abuse took place over roughly 15 months while the victim was 11 and 12 years old, and a judge on Tuesday also ordered 38-year-old Aldo Ricardo Sepulvedaperez to register as a sex offender and to have no contact with the victim for 10 years.
The San Mateo County District Attorney’s Office said Sepulvedaperez originally faced seven counts but agreed to plead to a single count, according to reporting by the San Mateo Daily Journal. In the DA’s summary, published by the Daily Journal, prosecutors outlined alleged conduct that included hugging, inappropriate touching, showing sexual films and the use of sex toys during the period in question.
Police arrested Sepulvedaperez in February 2023 after investigating reports that he had solicited minors for lewd purposes, then served search warrants at his home and workplace, local outlets reported. Initial coverage by the Redwood City Pulse noted that investigators seized electronic devices and asked the public to come forward with any information.
Sepulvedaperez entered his no-contest plea in January, an earlier piece in the San Mateo Daily Journal reported. According to prosecutors, the victim disclosed the incidents to a parent in an effort to keep others from being targeted, and that report also detailed the timeline of the alleged acts and the original multi-count complaint.
Court Order And Sex-Offender Registration
Because the convicted offense qualifies under California law, Sepulvedaperez must comply with state sex-offender registration and reporting rules that dictate how and when registrants notify authorities of their residence and other information. The California Department of Justice runs the Megan’s Law registry and explains registrant duties and potential penalties for failing to follow them on its California Megan's Law site.
Authorities have asked anyone with additional information to contact the Redwood City Police Department tip line or Sgt. Mark Alifano, a request that was included in earlier coverage. Reporting by CBS San Francisco lists the department tip line at 650-780-7110 and Sgt. Alifano’s number at 650-780-7673. Prosecutors said this week’s sentencing formally concludes the criminal case brought by the San Mateo County District Attorney's Office.
The resolution caps a year-long investigation by Redwood City police and county prosecutors and has sparked renewed neighborhood conversations about how adults who work with children are screened. Parents and community-based providers have said they plan to watch for any guidance or safety recommendations that schools and law enforcement agencies decide to share as a result of the case.
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