Pablo ReynaEsparza, 80 of Paso Robles, was sentenced to life in prison for molesting two children at a bootleg childcare facility in San Luis Obispo run by his wife.
A North County octogenarian convicted of child molestation has been sentenced to half a century in prison.
According to a news release from District Attorney Dan Dow’s office, on Feb. 10 Judge Catherine J. Swysen sentenced Pablo ReynaEsparza, 80 of Paso Robles to 50-years-to-life in prison for sexually abusing multiple children under14.
Last July, ReynaEsparza pled guilty to two felony counts of “committing lewd acts on a child under the age of 14,” the news release said.
“The crimes occurred in the City of San Luis Obispo,” the release said, “between 2016 and 2018 and involved multiple children who attended an unlicensed in-home daycare run by the defendant’s wife at their shared residence. The young survivors were between 5- to 11-years old when the crimes occurred.”
So ReynaEsparza was 72- to 74-years old when the crimes took place.
D.A. Dow said, “We are very proud of these young survivors for their remarkable courage in reporting these horrible crimes which enabled us to bring ReynaEsparza to justice. This substantial prison sentence for an 80-year-old sexual predator should ensure he will never victimize another child.”
At the sentencing hearing, the prosecutor, Dep. D.A. Kristin Barnard, told the court, “Mr. ReynaEsparza’s selfish and predatory actions in taking advantage of multiple children are the reason he has lost his freedom.”
ReynaEsparza will be required to register as a convicted sex offender for the rest of his life, should he somehow regain his freedom. While not exactly a death sentence, given his age, the lengthy sentence is likely to result in his death.
The case was investigated by the San Luis Obispo Police Department with help from the District Attorney’s Bureau of Investigation and was prosecuted by Barnard of the D.A.’s Sexual Assault Crimes Prosecution Unit. Victim Advocates, Dona Reed and Sonia Valencia helped with the victims.
The case is a cautionary tale for parents looking for childcare. “The District Attorney’s Office,” reads the news release, “urges all parents looking for childcare to verify credentials and proper licensing prior to making a selection.” Information on licensed childcare facilities is available from the California Department of Social Services Community Care Licensing Division (see: www.cdss.ca.gov/inforesources/community-care-licensing).
