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Updated: Man sentenced for committing sex crimes involving two child victims 

Update posted March 16:

– A jury has found Marco Antonio Navabarrera, 47, guilty of eight felony sex crimes against two victims who were young children when the crimes were committed against them between 2015 and 2019. He was ordered to serve 142 years and eight months to life in prison.

The verdict was reached on Feb. 16, 2023, and the sentencing hearing took place on March 16, 2023. During the hearing, the 9-year-old and 19-year-old victims recounted how the defendant’s crimes had affected them personally. One victim specifically described how their childhood was stolen from them by the defendant’s seven-year-long acts of molestation at such a young age.

The foster mother of one of the victims spoke of her son’s resilience, stating that he “would not be [the defendant’s] victim, he would be a victor.” The judge, after hearing from the victims, issued the maximum punishment allowed by California law and called the defendant a “serial predator” who had destroyed a family.

District Attorney Dan Dow praised the victims’ bravery for speaking out and testifying against the defendant. He expressed hope that their courage and the long prison sentence would encourage other victims to report and seek help from law enforcement. The case was investigated by the San Luis Obispo County Sheriff’s Office with the assistance of the District Attorney’s Bureau of Investigation and the Child Abuse Interview Team. Deputy District Attorney Kristin Barnard, assigned to the District Attorney’s Sexual Violence Unit, prosecuted the case.

 


Original story posted Feb. 17:

Marco Antonio Navabarrera, 47

Marco Antonio Navabarrera, 47.

Crimes may be punished by a maximum sentence of 140 years to life in prison plus three years eight months

San Luis Obispo County District Attorney Dan Dow announced this week that a San Luis Obispo County Jury convicted Marco Antonio Navabarrera, 47, of eight counts of sexual abuse of two victims.

At the conclusion of a four-day jury trial, twelve jurors unanimously found Navabarrera guilty of eight felony sex crimes against two young victims. The crimes included sexual penetration with a child under the age of ten, committing a lewd act on a child under fourteen, forcible lewd act on a child under fourteen, and lewd act on a child aged fourteen or fifteen years old.

“We are moved by the strength of these young survivors who reported what happened to them and then courageously testified in court,” said Dow. “We encourage anyone of any age to report when they have been abused. We stand vigilant to protect our community through effective advocacy to hold predators like this accountable for their crimes of abuse.”

The jury also made factual findings that Navabarrera’s crimes of lewd acts were committed on multiple victims who were under the age of fourteen. These special allegations impose a sentence of 25 years to life in prison for each eligible offense pursuant to California Penal Code.

Navabarrera’s crimes took place between 2015 and 2019 in San Luis Obispo County. These crimes may be punished by a maximum sentence of 140 years to life in prison plus 3 years, and eight months. The case is scheduled for a sentencing hearing on March 1, 2023, at 8:30 a.m. in Department 3 of the San Luis Obispo County Superior Court, with Honorable Judge Craig B. Van Rooyen presiding.

The case was investigated by the San Luis Obispo County Sheriff’s Office with the assistance of the District Attorney’s Bureau of Investigation and the Child Abuse Interview Team. The case was prosecuted by Deputy District Attorney Kristin Barnard who is assigned to the District Attorney’s Sexual Violence Unit.

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The news staff of the Paso Robles Daily News wrote or edited this story from local contributors and press releases. The news staff can be reached at info@pasoroblesdailynews.com.