Life In Prison For Napa Co. Man Who Molested Young Family Members

NAPA, CA— A Napa County man was sentenced Friday to 90 years to life in prison for sexually molesting two family members younger than 14 years old from 2010 until 2014 in both Napa and Santa Clara counties, the Napa County District Attorney's Office said.

The sentencing followed a nine-day trial that concluded July 25 when jurors convicted 46-year-old Alvin Villete Caparaz of forcible lewd and lascivious conduct with a child under 14, aggravated sexual assault of a child, forcible sexual penetration of a child under 14 and lewd and lascivious conduct with a child under 14.

The two victims were between 7 and 13 years old when Caparaz, a "habitual child molester," carried out the offenses over a period of four years, prosecutors with the Napa County District Attorney's Office said.

Criminal charges were filed against Caparaz in May 2015 after one of the victims disclosed the molestations, prompting an investigation by the Napa County Sheriff's Office.

Both survivors and their families were present Friday for the sentencing hearing; one survivor and both mothers addressed Caparaz and the court while making victim-impact statements, the DA's Office said.

Napa County Superior Court Judge Elia Ortiz awarded $495,000 restitution to the victims and their families.

"This sentence ensures that the defendant cannot abuse the survivors, or any child, ever again," said Deputy District Attorney Agnes Dziadur, who prosecuted the case.

The law accounts for "the extreme psychological damage" that the crime of child molestation manifests, and accounts for it in the form of a restitution order, Dziadur said.

"While it is true that money is a poor substitute for the loss of child innocence and trust, it's the Legislature's best attempt at making the survivors whole and symbolizes the court and society's recognition of the severity of the acts the defendant committed," Dziadur said.

Napa County sheriff’s Detective Nathalie Hurtado led the investigation of Caparaz, while Napa County District Attorney Investigators Ana Baber and Sharon Fong assisted in the prosecution. Sexual Assault Victim Services provided advocacy for the survivors, according to the DA's Office.

"I am hopeful that the survivors can finally achieve closure, continue the healing process and move forward," Dziadur said.

Bay City News Service contributed to this report.