Los Banos man convicted of sexually assaulting 86-year-old woman

A Merced County jury deliberated only about two hours Thursday before unanimously convicting a Los Banos man of sexually assaulting an 86-year-old woman in her home.

Aaron Torres-Quintana, 37, was found guilty by a jury of nine men and three woman on felony counts of forcible oral copulation, assault to commit a felony during a burglary, elder abuse and burglary, as well as misdemeanor counts of drug possession and resisting arrest.

Torres-Quintana’s shoulders sagged visibly after the court clerk read each guilty verdict into the formal record. He faces a maximum state prison term of 25 years to life when he is sentenced Dec. 19 by Judge John D. Kirihara in Merced County Superior Court.

Torres-Quintana was arrested March 8 after he broke into a home and sexually assaulted the 86-year-old victim, the Los Banos Police Department said.

Katie Gates, the Merced County deputy district attorney who prosecuted the case, said she was “very grateful for the jury’s verdict” and felt relief for the victim and her family.

The victim “has physically recovered from the incident and has a great supportive family standing by her, but she was obviously traumatized by what happened,” Gates said outside the courtroom Thursday.

Torres-Quintana’s attorney, Thomas Pfeiff, said his client was very disappointed with the verdict. Torres-Quintana testified during the trial that he was a regular guest in the woman’s home and was there to visit another person. He denied sexually assaulting her, Pfeiff said.

It was unclear Thursday whether Torres-Quintana plans to appeal the case.

Gates said the woman also testified during the trial, providing key evidence for the jury.

“There was also a 911 call that she made and an open line (to police dispatch) that recorded much of the attack,” Gates said.

Gates praised the work of Los Banos police investigators, and specifically Officer Kristifer Hew, who was one of the first officers on scene the night of the assault.

Cmdr. Jason Hedden, spokesman for the Los Banos police, described the attack as “an awful crime that shocked the conscience of the officers.”

“The officers said the 911 call was very difficult to listen to in the courtroom,” Hedden said. “We couldn’t be happier with the verdict.”

Los Banos police responded around 10 p.m. March 8 to a 911 call from a home in the 1400 block of South Nevada Street.

Police said the woman spotted a man in her backyard, yelled at him to leave and went to call the police.

While she was on the phone, police said, Torres-Quintana climbed into her home through a window and took the telephone away. Police dispatchers heard a struggle and a woman pleading with an intruder to leave.

Torres-Quintana began assaulting the woman but was interrupted and tried to run away when officers arrived on scene. He was arrested after struggling with police.

He remains in custody at the John Latorraca Correctional Facility.

This story was originally published November 20, 2014 at 6:34 PM with the headline "Los Banos man convicted of sexually assaulting 86-year-old woman."