Press Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date: 12/05/03

Contact person(s):

Media Coordinator, Donna Edwards - 565-3099 Media Spokesperson, Chief Deputy Larry Scoufos Deputy District Attorney: Barry McBride

Santa Rosa, Sonoma County, California

DEFENDANT SENTENCED TO PRISON FOR
34 YEARS AND 4 MONTHS PLUS 100 YEARS-TO-LIFE

Thirty-seven year old Armondo Gib Ortega was sentenced yesterday after being convicted of six felony counts of Lewd and Lascivious Conduct on a Child Under the Age of Fourteen, a six year old child, and one felony count of Failing to Register as a Sex Offender. Because the defendant was previously convicted of Lewd and Lascivious Conduct on a Child Under the Age of Fourteen in 1991, the child at that time was five years of age, he was sentenced under the “One Strike” law.

For the first two counts Mr. Ortega received two consecutive sentences of 50 years-to-life for his conduct. However, he must first serve 85% of a determinate sentence of 34 years and 4 months before beginning the life sentence and will have to serve at least 85% of the life sentence before he is eligible for parole consideration. The determinate sentence was based on the remaining five counts and prior conviction enhancements.

Superior Court Judge Cerena Wong was the sentencing judge. She also heard the evidence and rendered verdicts of guilty on all counts in the court trial that occurred on July 7, 2003. The defendant became friends with the victim’s mother while they were living in motel rooms. The molestation acts occurred when the mother left the child in the care of Mr. Ortega. Deputy District Attorney Barry McBride was the prosecuting attorney and the investigation was conducted by Santa Rosa Police Detective Michael Musgrove.