Jose Venturagarcia Facing Over 500 Years For Sexual Assault of Three Children and Woman

SAN LUIS OBISPO COUNTY, Calif. (KEYT) – Jose Manuel Venturagarcia was convicted of all 24 counts related to the sexual assault of three children and an adult woman.

According to the San Luis Obispo County District Attorney's Office, 21 separate witnesses testified during the 19-day trial that resulted in the conviction of Venturagarcia on the following counts:

• Two Counts of PC 261(a)(2)–Forcible Rape
• Two Counts of PC 289(a)(1)(A)–Sexual Penetration By Force
• 17 Counts of PC 288(b)(1)–Forcible Lewd Act on a Child Under the Age of 14
• PC 422(a)–Criminal Threats
• PC 288(a)–Lewd Act on a Child Under the Age of 14
• PC 311.11(a)–Possession of Child Sexual Abuse Material

The crimes were committed between January 2020 and July 2024 in Paso Robles detailed the San Luis Obispo County District Attorney's Office.

Evidence presented a trial showed that Venturagarcia sexually abused a young girl in his extended family for over two years while her mother was at work beginning when she was eight-year-old noted prosecutors.

Venturagarcia slapped the child and threatened to kill her mother while showing the girl a weapon he kept in the center console of his vehicle where much of the abuse occurred in order to keep her from reporting the abuse shared the San Luis Obispo County District Attorney's Office.

"Three children and a young mother in our community lived for years under the control of a man who used force, threats, and fear to keep them silent," explained District Attorney Dan Dow. "He told them no one would listen. He was wrong. These survivors found the courage to speak, our investigators and prosecutors listened, and this week a jury of twelve citizens unanimously told them: 'we believe you.' Nothing can undo what was taken from these victims, but this verdict ensures the man who harmed them will be held fully accountable and will never again be in a position to prey on a child."

The child disclosed the abuse in July 2024 and then her mother came forward to report that Venturagarcia had raped her in December 2021 and January 2022 stated prosecutors.

Venturagarcia was arrested on July 7, 2024, and a forensic search of his cell phone resulted in the discovery of images of a young boy that resulted in his individual charge of lewd acts on a child under the age of 14 as well as the charge of possession of child sexual abuse material explained the San Luis Obispo County District Attorney's Office.

During the investigation into Venturagarcia, investigators connected Venturagarcia to a 2023 report from another girl who lived in the same apartment complex as Venturagarcia and stated he had sexually abused her on two occasions when she was nine-years-old added prosecutors.

"I am deeply grateful to the jurors, who gave nearly a month of their lives to this trial and listened carefully to evidence that was painful to hear," San Luis Obispo County District Attorney Dow shared. "Their service is what makes our criminal and victim justice system work. I also thank the Paso Robles Police Department and our own District Attorney Senior Investigator Rene Vasquez for a thorough and compassionate investigation, Deputy District Attorney Kalina Laleva for her skilled and steady advocacy, and our Victim Witness team, who walked beside these families every step of the way. To any child or adult who is being hurt by someone they trust: it is not your fault, you will be believed, and you will not stand alone."

Venturagarcia is next due in court on Dec. 16, 2026, where he faces a maximum sentence of 510 years to life plus three years and eight months in state prison noted the San Luis Obispo County District Attorney's Office.

He remains in custody without bail until his sentencing next month and will be required to register as a sex offender for life and is not eligible for probation added the local prosecutor's office.

Anyone who believes a child is being abused can call the San Luis Obispo County 24-Hour Child Abuse Hotline at 805-781-5437 or toll free at 1-800-834-5437.

Survivors of sexual abuse can reach out for free, confidential support at any time through the Lumina Alliance Crisis and Information Line at 805-545-8888 or through the District Attorney's Victim Witness Assistance Center at 805-781-5821.

In the event of an active emergency, you can always call 911.