AnonymousSource: Santa Barbara County District Attorney
Santa Barbara County District Attorney Joyce E. Dudley announced today that 44-year old James Fuentes was sentenced to 25 years to life in state prison after having pled to one count of forced oral copulation, a violent felony offense, on two different victims and admitted two prior strike convictions. He will also be required to register as a sex offender under Penal Code section 290 for life.
These crimes arose out of two sexual assaults occurring in the spring of 2018 in the City of Santa Maria. In one assault, Fuentes entered the home of his victim and forced her to perform sexual acts on him. In a later assault, Fuentes in early morning hours entered the business office of another victim and forced her to perform sexual acts on him after attempting to rape her. Santa Maria Police Department detectives were able to quickly identify Fuentes as a suspect after the second sexual assault and tie Fuentes to both crimes through DNA analysis and other evidence collected.
District Attorney Dudley commended the Santa Maria Police Department, the Department of Justice Criminal Lab in Goleta and Supervising Deputy District Attorney Scott Donahue for their work in investigating, analyzing evidence and assisting in the prosecution of these heinous crimes. District Attorney Dudley also added, “In reporting these horrific crimes, these courageous victims ensured that this sexual predator can never assault another woman again.”
James Fuentes (Photo: Santa Barbara Sheriff’s Office)
