(KMJ) The Tulare County Superior Court sentenced Dennis Saenz Moreno to 25 years-to-life in prison for child molestation.
Moreno, 69, pleaded no contest to two counts of sexual penetration with a child 10 years old or younger and four counts of lewd acts upon a child
under the age of fourteen. All crimes involved substantial sexual conduct. Each count is a felony and are considered strike offenses.
The crimes occurred between February 1991 and May 2018 against six female victims between five and fourteen years old at the time of the sexual assaults. The
evidence indicates that some of the sexual assaults continued until the age of eighteen against one of the victims.
“At first glance, it would appear that the sentence doesn’t match the horrendous crimes committed by the defendant, and I wouldn’t necessarily disagree,” said
District Attorney Tim Ward. “Part of supporting victims of crime is to help them heal in a manner that suits them. In this case, healing meant moving forward
without enduring a trial. Based on the defendant’s age and the fact that he will qualify for review under California’s new Elder Parole process regardless if the
sentence was longer, we believe this is a very appropriate sentence.”
Moreno will also be required to register as a sex offender for the remainder of his life.
