DATE: April 12, 2024

CASE: Victor Ponce (Case #14F05881)

PROSECTUOR: Deputy District Attorney Heather Stephenson, Special Assault & Child Abuse Unit

On April 11, 2024, Victor Ponce was convicted by a jury of 13 counts of committing lewd acts on a child under the age of 14 with force or fear and two counts of distributing harmful or obscene material to a minor.  The jury also found true that Ponce took advantage of a position of trust and confidence in committing the offenses and that the victim was particularly vulnerable at the time of the offenses.

Between 2012 and 2014, Ponce molested a child between the ages of 8 and 9 years old. He made the victim watch pornography and engaged in substantial sexual conduct with her repeatedly on numerous occasions.  After the victim disclosed the abuse in 2014, Ponce fled to Mexico. A federal arrest warrant for unlawful flight to avoid prosecution was obtained in 2016. Ponce was arrested on the warrant and extradited back to the United States in 2021 to face charges.

Ponce faces a maximum sentence of 133 years and 8 months in state prison. Sentencing is set for May 8, 2024, at 9:00 a.m. in Department 33 before the Honorable Laurel White.

Under current California law, Ponce (age 50) will become eligible for release at an Elder Parole hearing after serving only 20 years of his 133-year and 8-months sentence.