Auburn — As Child Abuse Prevention Month begins on April 1, Placer County prosecutors are pointing to a case they say will keep a repeat sex offender off the streets for decades. On February 26, 2026, Placer County Superior Court Judge Jones sentenced 46-year-old Ezil Otis to consecutive terms totaling 100 years to life after a jury convicted him of sexually abusing two children under the age of 14. Prosecutors say the victims were an 11-year-old neighbor girl and a developmentally delayed boy, and that the abuse happened between August 2020 and November 2021.
According to the Placer County District Attorney's Office, the case was handled by the office’s Sexual Assault Unit, with support from the Placer County Sheriff’s Office, the county’s Multi-Disciplinary Interview Center (MDIC) and the DA’s victim services unit. In a Facebook post, the office shared photos related to the case and noted that Otis had a prior serious and violent sexual assault conviction involving an adult victim.
Investigation and coordination
Placer County's Multi-Disciplinary Interview Center (MDIC) is designed to spare children from having to repeatedly relive abuse while still giving investigators what they need to build a case. The center conducts child-friendly forensic interviews and brings together law enforcement, child welfare, medical and mental health professionals to reduce trauma and preserve evidence. That team approach is a cornerstone of how the DA's Sexual Assault Unit handles cases involving children. The Placer MDIC outlines how the center coordinates interviews and connects families with support services.
Prosecutors' message to survivors
The prosecutor on the case used the verdict and sentence to send a message to other survivors who may still be weighing whether to report. In its Facebook statement, the office said, "We hope victims will continue to find the strength to come forward and use their voice." Prosecutors also noted that one young male victim began showing aggressive behavior while in foster care, behavior that ultimately led to disclosures about the abuse and to the criminal case against Otis. The Placer County District Attorney's Office provided the statement and images from the case.
Sentence and legal context
Judge Jones ordered Otis to serve consecutive terms that add up to 100 years to life, a punishment prosecutors say reflects the severity of the crimes against the two children. At the same time, the DA’s post pointed out that under current California law, even people serving long indeterminate life sentences can still be considered for parole later in life. For background on how parole eligibility and suitability hearings work in California, the California Board of Parole Hearings publishes a public handbook on the hearing process.
Resources and reporting
Placer County officials are urging anyone with information about possible abuse to contact local law enforcement, Child Protective Services or the DA’s victim services unit, so that children can be interviewed by trained specialists and families can be linked with help quickly. The county’s MDIC page lists child abuse reporting resources, and the Placer County District Attorney’s Office maintains victim services contacts for those affected by abuse. The Placer County District Attorney's Office and the Placer MDIC both provide guidance and links to services.
