A Southern California man was sentenced to 152 years in prison for raping young girls.
Omar Cruz-Hernandez, 39, of Oxnard, was sentenced Friday for raping and sexually abusing multiple children, according to the Ventura County District Attorney’s Office.
On June 23, 2023, Oxnard Police detectives investigated a report of child sexual abuse.
The victim told police she had been sexually abused by Cruz-Hernandez since she was 10 years old. A second victim told police she had been sexually abused by the suspect since she was 7 years old.
Investigators learned the man gained access to the young girls through a familial relationship.
On Aug. 2, he was convicted by a jury of seven felony counts of child sexual abuse.
The convictions included:
- Engaging in sexual intercourse or sodomy with a child 10 years of age or younger
- Continuous sexual abuse
- Rape by force, fear, or threats
- Lewd or lascivious act: child 14 or 15 years
- Lewd or lascivious act: child under 14 years
The jury also found true the allegation that Cruz-Hernandez sexually assaulted multiple victims.
On Sept. 13, he was sentenced to 152 years to life in state prison.
“The defendant committed unspeakable acts of sexual abuse against multiple vulnerable children,” said Michael Kern, a Ventura County District Attorney who prosecuted the case. “While nothing will ever undo the harm that the defendant inflicted, I hope this sentence provides even a small amount of closure to the victims and allows their healing process to continue. This sentence also demonstrates that these crimes will not be tolerated in our community and ensures that the defendant will never harm another child.”