District Attorney Ron Freitas announced Bertin Melo Villanueva, 34, was sentenced to 26 years in state prison in the courtroom of The Honorable Richard Guiliani, after pleading guilty to multiple felony charges, including Continuous Sexual Abuse of a Child [PC 288.5] and Rape by Force [PC 261(a)(2)]. Both offenses are strikes under California’s Three Strikes Law. Villanueva also admitted to personally inflicting great bodily injury on the victim and agreed to waive all custody credits dating back to his arrest on April 12, 2024.

The case was prosecuted by Deputy District Attorney Elaine Casillas of the San Joaquin County District Attorney’s Office and investigated by Detective Allison Barsetti of the San Joaquin County Sheriff’s Office.

During sentencing, a statement from the victim’s family was read aloud in court, calling the defendant a “monster” and a “coward,” and expressing relief that “he will never do this to somebody else… as justice is being served today.”

“This is the kind of predator we will never stop fighting to remove from our communities,” said District Attorney Ron Freitas. “The brutality and trauma this child endured are unspeakable. This sentence ensures that this defendant will never have the opportunity to hurt another innocent child again.”