Life Sentence For Petaluma Man Convicted Of Raping Girl, 12: DA

SONOMA COUNTY, CA — A 51-year-old Petaluma man was sentenced this week in Sonoma County Superior Court to 24 years to life in prison for the 2012 aggravated sexual assault of a child younger than 14 years old, according to the Sonoma County District Attorney's Office.

The life sentence for Filemon Hernandez was imposed by Sonoma County Superior Court Judge Christopher Honigsberg.

Prior to the sentencing, Hernandez pleaded guilty to aggravated sexual assault on a child, attempted aggravated sexual assault of a child and lewd act on a child younger than 14 years old.

The charges resulted from a series of sexual assaults, which culminated in forcible rape, the victim suffered during the summer of 2012 when she was just 12 years old, according to the DA's Office.

"This brave young survivor was just a child when she was repeatedly abused by this predator throughout the summer of 2012," said Sonoma County District Attorney Jill Ravitch. "This sentence reflects the gravity of the crimes committed."

The case against Hernandez was investigated by the Petaluma Police Department, and was prosecuted by Deputy District Attorney Ashley W. Hendon with the assistance of District Attorney Investigator Robyn Katz.

The DA's Office noted that although Hernandez received a life sentence, current California parole rules will make him eligible to ask for parole after serving 17 years of his term.