Defendant Sentenced for Rape, Assault, Human Trafficking

DATE: March 6, 2023

CASE: Guadalupe Hernandez (Case #20FE014406)

PROSECUTOR: Deputy District Attorney Denise Halstead, Adult Sexual Assault Prosecution Unit

The Honorable Curtis Fiorini sentenced Guadalupe Hernandez to 15 years in state prison.  On December 8, 2022, Hernandez pled as charged to forcible rape, human trafficking of a minor, pimping a minor over 16 years of age, pimping by encouraging a minor over 16 years old, deriving support from proceeds of a person’s prostitution, two counts of assault by means of force likely to produce great bodily injury and misdemeanor prevent/dissuade a victim from making a report. Hernandez also admitted to out on bail enhancements and aggravating factors.

On April 9, 2020, Hernandez entered a massage therapy spa and demanded a massage.  During the massage, he forced the victim down on the massage table and raped her. The victim eventually fought Hernandez off and chased him out of the business. Hernandez falsely reported that he had been robbed.

On December 12, 2020, Hernandez was out on bail for the rape when he punched a 19-year-old second victim in the face, causing her lip to split and requiring stitches. The victim did not report the assault at that time. On January 18, 2021, Hernandez prevented the same victim from leaving his car by strangling her several times before she finally escaped and reported both incidents to police. The victim also reported that Hernandez had her work as a prostitute and forced her to give him all the money she made. While the victim was making a report to the officer, Hernandez continuously taunted her on her phone by threatening to tell everyone she was a “rat” if she continued to report his crimes.

After being arrested for the charges against the second victim, Hernandez placed several jail calls to a 17-year-old victim. Hernandez continuously asked her to help post his bail, indicating she should prostitute herself to pay for his release. Hernandez posted bail with money the 17-year-old girl earned by prostitution. The victim reported that Hernandez encouraged her to engage in prostitution and she gave him half of the money she earned. Hernandez continued this conduct after his release until he was arrested for the third time.

Hernandez continued to contact the second and third victim encouraging them to lie to the District Attorney’s Office about their willingness to testify and telling them to not go to court so his case would be dismissed.