A Redwood City man whose case started with an anonymous school note and later expanded when a second victim came forward has been sentenced to five years in state prison for molesting two girls in separate incidents, prosecutors said. Abraham Perez Cisneros, 46, also must register as a sex offender, pay restitution to at least one victim and stay away from both victims for 10 years.
In April, a jury convicted Cisneros on multiple counts, including three felony child molestation charges and several misdemeanors. Jurors deadlocked on an additional felony charge. As reported by AOL, prosecutors had previously said Cisneros faced up to 12 years in prison if the court imposed the maximum penalties. After the guilty verdicts, he was taken into custody to await sentencing.
At sentencing, San Mateo County Superior Court Judge Kevin Dunleavy imposed a five-year state prison term and credited Cisneros with 33 days for time already served, according to KRON4. The court ordered him to pay $15,000 in restitution to one victim, with restitution for the second victim to be set at a later date. The judge also issued a 10-year no-contact order barring Cisneros from any contact with the victims.
How prosecutors say the abuse was reported
According to prosecutors, the first victim, who was 12 at the time, told her parents about the abuse in 2015, but the family did not immediately report it to authorities. The case surfaced later when an anonymous note written at school prompted concern. A teacher recognized the handwriting, which triggered an inquiry by the Redwood City Police Department. Years later, in 2021, a second victim came forward and reported that the abuse had taken place at the church they attended, as reported by Patch. That later statement led prosecutors to bring felony charges.
Legal consequences and next steps
Prosecutors had said Cisneros could face up to 12 years behind bars if the court opted for the maximum penalties, but the judge settled on a shorter term at sentencing. In addition to serving his prison sentence, Cisneros must register as a sex offender and will likely face parole or other post-release supervision once he is out, according to local reports. Appeals or additional legal filings could still follow as the case moves through the courts, per AOL.
Victims or community members seeking support can contact the San Mateo County District Attorney's Victim Services office at 400 County Center in Redwood City or call (650) 599-7479. Resources are listed by WomensLaw. Anyone with information about the case is asked to reach out to the Redwood City police or the district attorney's office.
