Convicted Daly City Child Molester Gets 5 Years

REDWOOD CITY, CA- A Daly City man who pleaded no contest to two counts of child molestation in January was sentenced to five years in prison Wednesday, San Mateo County District Attorney Steve Wagstaffe said.

Valentin Pebenito, 59, was initially charged with 20 counts of child molestation for allegedly repeatedly reaching under the clothes of two 13-year-old family members and their friend, prosecutors said. He also promised them money in exchange for back scratches, according to prosecutors.

He was arrested in August 2014 and faced a potential term of life in prison if convicted of the numerous counts involving multiple victims. But he pleaded no contest to two counts last month in exchange for a sentence of no more than five years of prison, prosecutors said.

Pebenito has nearly two-thirds of the sentence in credit for time served as he has remained in custody on $2 million bail since his arrest. When released he will have to register as a sex offender for life.

– By Bay City News Service. Image via Shutterstock.