Modesto man convicted of assaulting elderly woman with dementia
A Stanislaus County jury has convicted a Modesto man of sexually assaulting an 88-year-old woman with dementia, a case prosecutors say highlights the vulnerability of seniors receiving in-home services.
Jaime Manuel Pena, 42, was found guilty of felony sexual battery following a multi-day trial in Stanislaus County Superior Court, according to court records.
Jurors also found true an aggravating factor that the victim was particularly vulnerable due to age or disability.
The verdict was reached in the afternoon on Friday, April 10, after jurors began deliberating earlier in the day.
Prosecutors alleged Pena assaulted the woman in September 2025 at her home. The victim, who suffered from advanced dementia and lived alone with assistance from a meal delivery service, was unable to consent to sexual conduct.
The case came to light after the woman made a concerning statement to her daughter, prompting a review of home surveillance footage. Prosecutors said the video showed Pena grabbing the woman’s hand and placing it on his genitals.
Authorities also cited statements Pena made after his arrest, including a phone call in which he said, “it’s wrong and should not have happened, it’s sexual assault,” according to court documents.
Victim unable to testify due to dementia
Deputy District Attorney Vita Palazuelos said the victim did not testify at trial because she has advanced dementia and was unable to take the oath required to testify.
“She had Stage 5 dementia. We can’t put out a witness that is not able to take an oath,” Palazuelos said.
Palazuelos said Pena was working for a third-party contractor providing meal delivery services to seniors at the time of the incident and was also on federal probation for a drug trafficking case.
She said the case reflects broader concerns about the safety of elderly residents who rely on outside services.
“Not everybody has the best intentions. Especially with older folks, they tend to be more trusting towards others,” Palazuelos said.
There may be other victims, Stanislaus deputy DA says
Prosecutors believe there may be additional victims in Pena’s case.
Palazuelos said Pena admitted to inappropriate behavior with multiple women and may have targeted individuals with dementia who were less able to report abuse.
Pena had pleaded not guilty throughout the proceedings. During the trial, defense attorneys challenged key testimony and argued the victim’s daughter lacked firsthand knowledge of the alleged incident and was not qualified to interpret surveillance video or assess the victim’s medical condition.
Defense attorney Naveen Singh did not respond to a request for comment.
Following the verdict, Pena was remanded into custody and is being held without bail. He is scheduled to be sentenced May 5 in Stanislaus County Superior Court.
Trio Community Meals, the company Pena allegedly worked for, did not respond to a request for comment.
This story was originally published April 17, 2026 at 11:17 AM with the headline "Modesto man convicted of assaulting elderly woman with dementia."
