41-year-old man gets 21-years-to-life in molestation case

A 41-year-old man was sentenced to 21 years to life in prison on Tuesday for molesting an 11-year-old girl.

Judge John Kirihara handed the sentence down upon Francisco Padilla, who was convicted by a Merced County jury on five molestation counts in October. The counts included aggravated sexual assault of a child, lewd and lascivious behavior with a child, and sodomy.

Padilla said nothing during the hearing, and members of the victim's family didn't present any statements in court. Padilla will be eligible for parole after serving about 20 years in prison. If released, he'll have to register as a convicted sex offender.

Prosecutor Monika Saini said the incidents happened on two different occasions in 2008 and 2009 in Stevinson and Hilmar, where the defendant lived.

The Merced County Sheriff's Department was notified about the abuse after the victim told a friend, who informed officials at her school.

— Victor A. Patton