Salinas Man Sentenced For Child Molestation

SALINAS, CA -- A 36-year-old Salinas man was sentenced Thursday to 44 years in prison for molesting a family member when she was a child, Monterey County prosecutors said today.

Telesforo Martinez Rivera pleaded no contest in September to two counts of forcible lewd act upon a child and four counts of non-forcible lewd acts upon a child, according to prosecutors.

The victim is now 18 years old and Judge Julie Culver said she is a strong, intelligent woman who will be able to regain her life despite enduring an "abhorrent predator."

Rivera sexually and violently abused the victim beginning when she was 8 years old until his arrest in May 2017, according to prosecutors.

--By Bay City News Service/Shutterstock image