WATSONVILLE — A former Watsonville farm manager convicted of molesting a 4-year-old girl may spend the rest of his life in state prison, a judge ruled Friday morning.
During a speedy hearing, Judge John Salazar sentenced Virgilio “Hilo” Yepez, 51, to 15 years to life in prison for sexually abusing the daughter of a woman with whom Yepez had a relationship. The girl, who testified during the trial, was 4 when Yepez sexually abused her in September 2007.
In February, a jury — after deliberating for just an hour — found Yepez guilty of one count of oral copulation of a child younger than 10 years old and two counts of lewd acts with a child.
The sentencing hearing had been postponed twice before Friday’s court appearance. Some of the delay occurred because Yepez’s attorney, Miguel Hernandez, filed a last-minute motion to reduce the prison term his client faces. Hernandez said the lengthy sentence, part of which is dictated by state law, exceeds the conduct being disciplined.
Yepez had faced a stiffer sentence: 23 years to life in prison.
Watsonville farm manager Virgilio Yepez sentenced to 15 years to life for sexual abuse of 4-year-old
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