A 28-year-old Walnut Creek man will spend 25 years to life in prison for repeatedly sexually abusing a young male relative in 2010.
Contra Costa County Superior Court Judge John Kennedy sentenced Mexican national Oscar Juarez to the lengthy term in a Martinez courtroom this morning, a month after a jury convicted Juarez of two counts of committing sexual acts on a minor under 10 years old and three counts of attempted sodomy on a child.
Prosecutors said that in 2010, Juarez began sexually abusing a young male family member whose parents had allowed Juarez to stay with them at their Walnut Creek home.
"The victim was forced to live in the same apartment as his abuser, so he had no option of escaping the attacks," Kennedy said this morning.
The judge noted the "severe and unimaginable psychological harm" the abuse had caused the child.
Kennedy said he also took into account that the defendant had threatened the victim to keep him from reporting the abuse.
The court heard this morning from the victim's mother as well as a letter from the victim himself who said he was scared of what might happen if Juarez were released.
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Two of Juarez's brothers spoke briefly during the sentencing hearing in his defense.
Juarez will be eligible for parole in 25 years.
"I'm hoping the community, as well as the victim, will be safe by that time," the judge said.
