(LOS ANGELES) – As part of her commitment to protecting minors, today, City Attorney Hydee Feldstein Soto announced that her office has secured the maximum 12 & ½ year sentence in county jail for Defendant Jacinto Mendez after he was found guilty on 13 counts related to sexually abusing a minor. He was convicted of six counts of sexual battery, two counts of sexual penetration by a foreign object and one count of willful cruelty to a child. In addition to incarceration, the defendant must register as a sex offender for life.
City Attorney Feldstein Soto also announced additional prosecutions involving child sex abuse that the office has secured.
“The safety, health and well-being of our most vulnerable residents - our children - has been one of my top priorities. This is one of the longest sentences our office has secured,” said Hydee Feldstein Soto, Los Angeles City Attorney. “I am proud of the prosecutors in my office who dedicate themselves to this work and give voice in the halls of justice to our kids. I am also proud of our close partnership with the LAPD, the Center for Assault Treatment Services (CATS), and the Stuart House and UCLA Rape Treatment Center who are faciliting this crucial work.”
“The LAPD collaborates closely with the City Attorney to bring justice to victims of sexual abuse and human trafficking. This partnership focuses on prosecuting perpetrators and providing comprehensive support to victims. Our joint efforts include legal action, community outreach and awareness campaigns. Together, we are committed to making a difference in the lives of those affected by these crimes,” said Assistant Chief Emada Tingirides, Director - Office of Operations, Los Angeles Police Department.
“Victims of sexual abuse often come from vulnerable backgrounds, including those with a history of family and sexual abuse. These individuals are at a higher risk of being targeted by traffickers due to their circumstances. Human trafficking not only affects individuals but also has a profound impact on families. Families of victims often face emotional and psychological challenges. The LAPD partnership with our City Attorney is critical in bringing justice to the victims and families,” she continued.
“I want to recognize the City Attorney’s Office not only for the work they do, but how they do it - partnering with us in a way that is respectful of children, mindful of trauma, and focused on both accountability and care,” said Jane Halladay Goldman, Senior Director of Stuart House and the UCLA Rape Treatment Center. “Since 1988, Stuart House has operated as a multidisciplinary team model that brings together prosecutors, law enforcement partners across Los Angeles, the Department of Children and Family Services, and our own specialized forensic interviewers, child advocates and therapists. The goal is justice and healing—reducing retraumatization, limiting how often children have to retell their story, and ensuring they’re supported in a child-centered setting with the best care possible.”
The Defendant was charged with 14 counts related to molesting his minor female relative when she was 13 and 14 years old. Evidence of prior sexual abuse from the time the victim was seven until she was 12 was also introduced, and it was similar to the abuse that was charged.
The charges included:
- 1 Count of 288c(1), lewd or lascivious act on a child who is 14 or 15 years old;
- 3 counts of 289(h), sexual penetration of a person under 18;
- 6 counts of 243.4(a), sexual battery;
- 1 count of 647.6(a)(1), child annoying/molestation;
- 1 count of 273d, inflicting physical punishment on a child; and
- 1 count of 273a(b), child abuse.
Following a 10-day jury trial, the jury convicted the Defendant of 13 counts in approximately five hours of deliberation. One additional count, PC288(c)(1)-M Lewd Act upon a Child 14 or 15 by a Person 10 Years Older, was dismissed.
The LA County Department of Children and Family Services reminds Angelenos that if they suspect a child is being abused or neglected, to call their toll-free, 24/7, Child Protection Hotline immediately: 800-540-4000.
According to theFirst National Survivor Study, “In Harm’s Way - How Systems Fail Human Trafficking Survivors” - commissioned by Polaris, 84% of trafficked victims experienced sexual abuse at one point of their childhood. Disrupting human trafficking of minors is a key priority of Feldstein Soto’s administration. January is National Human Trafficking Prevention Month.
LASC Criminal Case #24CJCM01839-01:
The People of the State of California vs. Mendez, Jacinto
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Hydee Feldstein Soto is the 43rd Los Angeles City Attorney, elected in November 2022 and sworn into office in December 2022. Her team of nearly 1,000 legal professionals, including 500+ attorneys, carries out legal work for the City of Los Angeles at her direction and under her supervision. She is the first female City Attorney in L.A. history.