Press Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date: 09/17/2008

Contact person(s):

Media Coordinator, Hilary Moores - 565-3099 Media Spokesperson, Assistant District Attorney Christine M. Cook

Santa Rosa, Sonoma County, California

UNCLE WHO IMPREGNATED 12 YEAR OLD NIECE SENTENCED TO LIFE IN PRISON

District Attorney Stephan Passalacqua announced that Alvaro Garcia Badillo, 22, of Petaluma, was sentenced yesterday to an indeterminate term of 15 years to life in state prison for sex crimes committed against his minor niece. In June, a Sonoma County jury found Badillo guilty of continuous sexual abuse of a minor and found sentencing enhancements true alleging that he engaged in substantial sexual conduct with the victim and committed great bodily injury, for impregnating her. He was sentenced yesterday to the life term, as mandated by law, by the Honorable Rene Chouteau.

District Attorney Passalacqua said, “This is the worst type of predator, who violates the position of trust as a relative to harm a child. This sentence ensures that this individual won’t be able to harm any other children in our community.”

In April, 2006, when it was discovered the victim was pregnant, she disclosed to her family and law enforcement that her uncle had been molesting her for over a year. The victim reported that Badillo first began molesting her when she was 11 years old and after a period of increasing sexual contact, began having regular intercourse with her. At the age of 12 the victim became pregnant, but hid that fact from everyone, until she was approximately seven months pregnant. The victim gave birth to a healthy infant on her own 13th birthday. DNA evidence conclusively proved that Badillo was the father of the child.

The case was prosecuted by Deputy District Attorney Juliette Olson, who was assisted by DA Investigator Lisa Chapman. Detective Michael Pierre, was the lead investigator for the Petaluma Police Department in this case.