Update: Man sentenced for sex crimes involving three victims
Update posted March 2:
– District Attorney Dan Dow announced this week that on Wednesday, March 1, 2023, a San Luis Obispo County Judge sentenced 36-year-old Daniel Ramirezgutierrez to 435 years to life in state prison for 19 counts of sexual abuse of two children and one adult. The crimes occurred in both San Luis Obispo and Contra Costa Counties.
At the sentencing hearing, San Luis Obispo County Superior Court Judge Craig B. van Rooyen heard directly from the crime victims via video conference about the severe impact of the sexual abuse crimes on their lives. After listening to the victims’ comments and the statements made by the defense lawyer and prosecuting Deputy District Attorney Kristin Barnard, Judge van Rooyen sentenced Ramirezgutierrez to serve 435 years to life in state prison.
California sentencing law provides lengthy prison terms and life in prison for certain sex crimes committed against children. Life sentences such as this provide some protection for young children by way of deterring predators from committing these devastating crimes, punishment for the sex offender, and protection for the community at large from these predators.
“In San Luis Obispo County, we vigorously prosecute child predators and fully enforce California law to protect children – our most vulnerable citizens,” said Dow. “While this long sentence will not undo the harm done to these young people, it does send an unmistakable message that sexual abuse of children is reprehensible and will not be tolerated in our community.”
The case was investigated by the San Luis Obispo County Sheriff’s Office with the assistance of the District Attorney’s Bureau of Investigation, District Attorney’s Child Abuse Interview Team, and Brentwood Police Department in Contra Costa County. The case was prosecuted by Deputy District Attorney Kristin Barnard who is assigned to the District Attorney’s Sexual Violence Unit.
Original story posted Feb. 7:
Man found guilty for sex crimes involving three victims
– San Luis Obispo County District Attorney Dan Dow announced today that on Friday, February 3, 2023, a San Luis Obispo County Judge convicted 36-year-old Daniel Ramirezgutierrez of 19 counts of sexual abuse of two children and one adult. The crimes occurred in both San Luis Obispo and Contra Costa Counties.
After a five-day court trial, San Luis Obispo County Superior Court Judge Craig B. van Rooyen found Ramirezgutierrez guilty on 19 counts. The crimes included one count of sexual intercourse with a child under the age of 10, fourteen counts of committing a lewd act on a child under the age of 14, two counts of forcible rape, and two counts of forcible oral copulation. In accordance with California sentencing law, the judge also issued a finding that the crimes involved multiple victims, two of which were under the age of 14. As a result, Ramirezgutierrez possible sentence is enhanced to a maximum sentence of 435 years to life in prison. The sentencing hearing is scheduled for March 1, 2023.
“Crimes of sexual abuse always leave a long-lasting psychological scar on the survivors and therefore they deserve our full prosecution and appropriately strong sentences,” said Dow. “We grieve for the victims and we are inspired by their courage to report the abuse and testify in court. At the time of sentencing, there will finally be justice for these brave survivors.”
Ramirezgutierrez’ crimes committed in San Luis Obispo County spanned seven years, between 2015 and 2022, and involved acts against his then partner and her juvenile family member, while the crimes committed in Contra Costa County occurred between 2012 and 2016, involving acts against a close juvenile family member.
The crimes that occurred in Contra Costa County were discovered and able to be prosecuted here because of additional evidence gathered after the dedicated prosecutor saw something that caused her to request an additional investigation. As a result, evidence that otherwise might have been missed was gathered which led to the discovery of the crimes that were committed in Contra Costa County. California law allows a district attorney, under certain limited circumstances, to prosecute crimes that occurred in another California county with the authorization of that county’s district attorney. In this case, Dow received authorization to prosecute the crimes that were committed in Contra Costa County.
The case was investigated by the San Luis Obispo County Sheriff’s Office with the assistance of the District Attorney’s Bureau of Investigation, the District Attorney’s Child Abuse Interview Team, and the Brentwood Police Department in Contra Costa County. 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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