A Sacramento man will spend the next three decades in state prison after a jury found he repeatedly sexually abused an 11-year-old girl, according to local reporting and prosecutors. The assaults took place in Sacramento County over roughly a year, and authorities say the victim first opened up to friends and family before going to police after she turned 18. The sentence stems from a February jury verdict and an April hearing in Sacramento Superior Court.
On Feb. 3 a jury found Adrian Romero guilty of eight counts of lewd acts upon a child and one count of forcible lewd act upon a child, according to the Sacramento County District Attorney's Office. Prosecutors told jurors the abuse began when the girl was 11 and involved multiple incidents over about a year. During the investigation, detectives searched Romero’s home and seized electronic devices that investigators say contained more than 1,700 pornographic searches, some of them similar to the conduct the victim described in court, per the DA’s news release.
Sentencing and registration
At the April sentencing hearing, the judge imposed a 30-year state prison term and ordered Romero to register as a sex offender for life, as reported by FOX40. According to that report, victim-impact statements were read in court, and prosecutors pressed for a substantial sentence, arguing the scope and duration of the abuse warranted a lengthy term. The outlet also noted there was no immediate public comment from Romero’s defense team after the hearing.
How investigators built the case
Prosecutors say the victim initially confided in a friend, then later disclosed the abuse to more family members before finally contacting law enforcement. That report set off the investigation that led detectives to search Romero’s home and digital devices. The DA’s office says those electronic records helped corroborate the victim’s account and became a key pillar of the prosecution’s case at trial. The matter was handled by the District Attorney’s Special Assault & Child Abuse Unit, which presented the evidence to jurors in February.
Legal notes
The convictions carry severe penalties under California law, including lifetime sex-offender registration and post-release supervision requirements. The DA’s February news release outlined the potential sentencing exposure tied to the charges, while local reporting from the April hearing indicates the court ultimately imposed a lengthy term at sentencing. Romero still retains the right to pursue appeals or other post-conviction motions permitted under state law.
Victims and community members seeking support can contact the Sacramento County District Attorney’s Victim-Witness Assistance Program for counseling, court accompaniment and information about possible compensation; see the resources page at the Sacramento County District Attorney’s Office. The DA’s release and local reporting provide additional detail on the case and the April sentencing.
