How Could You? Hall of Shame- Jonathan Robert Sandoval

This will be an archive of heinous actions by those involved in child welfare, foster care and adoption. We forewarn you that these are deeply disturbing stories that may involve sex abuse, murder, kidnapping and other horrendous actions.

From Modesto, California, Foster Child Jonathan Robert Sandoval ,18, “accused of sexually molesting two boys agreed to a plea deal and was sentenced to six years in prison, the Stanislaus County District Attorney’s Office announced this week.

Jonathan Robert Sandoval in December agreed to plead no contest to one felony count of committing a lewd and lascivious act on a child younger than 14. Prosecutors dropped a second count on the same charge for the second victim in exchange for his plea.

Sandoval’s conviction is considered a “strike” offense under the state’s “three-strikes” law. He is required to register as a sex offender for life, and he must serve 85 percent of his sentence before he is eligible for parole.

On Jan. 30, the boys’ family was allowed to provide a victim impact statement in court. Deputy District Attorney Annette Rees, who prosecuted the case, read a statement written by the boys’ mother.

One boy was 4 years old and the other was 7 years old when they were victimized, according to prosecutors. Their mother explained that her family took in Sandoval as a foster child. She wrote that they had a wealth of knowledge about Sandoval, but that there was no history of inappropriate touching of children.

On June 8, the 4-year-old boy went into the house. The mother wrote that her husband noticed the boy didn’t return outside right away. He then found Sandoval molesting the child, the mother wrote. The 7-year-old started to cry and said, “Jonathan touches me, too, but he always says he’s sorry,” according to the boys’ mother.

“Not only were our children violated, our family was,” the mother wrote. “We have been very committed to seeing that Mr. Sandoval be held accountable for his actions. Thank you for providing our family with some sense of closure.””

[Modesto Bee 2/4/14]

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