DATE: December 15, 2022

CASE: Juan Gabriel Lepe Puentes (Case #99F00620)

PROSECUTOR: Deputy District Attorney Dinah Mielke, Special Assault & Child Abuse Unit

Juan Gabriel Lepe Puentes was convicted by a jury of 10 counts of committing forcible lewd acts upon a child.

In 1996, Puentes began molesting a female family member and told her not to tell or something bad would happen to her parents. In 1998, Puentes grabbed the then 12-year-old victim, dragged her into a bedroom, overpowered her and forcibly sexually assaulted her. He only stopped when he heard a noise that startled him. The victim immediately told another family member that Puentes had tried to rape her.  After Puentes fled the residence, he left the country.

Puentes faces a maximum sentence of 80 years in state prison.  Sentencing is set for January 13, 2023, at 10:00 a.m. in Department 16 before the Honorable Delbert Oros.

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