Edhat Staff
By the Santa Barbara County District Attorney’s Office
Santa Barbara County District Attorney John T. Savrnoch announced that on May 23, 2023, 44-year-old Lompoc resident, Edward Norman Hill Lewis, was sentenced to eight years prison.
The Honorable Judge Michael Carrozzo sentenced the Defendant after he pled guilty to committing the following crimes: two counts of Lewd or Lascivious Acts upon Jane Doe 1, a Child under the age of 14, in violation of Penal Code section PC 288(a), and one count of Lewd or Lascivious Act upon Jane Doe 2, a Child aged 15, in violation of Penal Code section 288(c)(1). As a result of his pleas, the Defendant will be required to register as a sex offender for the rest of his life pursuant to Penal Code section 290.
The case initially came to light in 2021 when Jane Doe 1, a brave 17-year-old girl with autism, came forward and disclosed that she had been molested by the Defendant since she was 13 years old. Jane Doe 1’s courageous revelation led investigators to identify other survivors who had also been sexually assaulted by the Defendant during their underage years, dating back to 1999. However, due to the statute of limitations, charges could only be filed for one additional survivor, identified as Jane Doe 2. The Defendant engaged in sexual acts with Jane Doe 2 when she was 15 years old and manipulated her into sending him explicit photographs of herself.
The Defendant had gained the trust of both Jane Doe 1 and Jane Doe 2 by befriending their mothers, and he was considered a close family friend before perpetrating these heinous acts. The outcome achieved in this case would not have been possible without the bravery displayed by all the survivors who came forward.
The successful prosecution of this case can be attributed to the diligent efforts of various law enforcement personnel, including the Santa Barbara Sheriff’s Office Detectives, District Attorney Investigators, and Deputy District Attorney Sarah Barkley. Their dedication and commitment ensured that the Defendant was held accountable for his crimes.
Edward Lewis (Photo: SB Sheriff’s Office)
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Only eight years for molesting multiple kids! You can not rehabilitate this.
Slap on the wrist for all of the misery and lifelong trauma he has caused for how many children? Appalling.
Apparently this will be a lifelong compulsion for him and others like him. I hope there are psychiatric interventions to help the perpetrators and protect the vulnerable when he is released.