Anaheim Grandfather Tomas Cruz Gets 101 Years for Molesting Four Granddaughters
The 69-year-old man was convicted on nine felony counts for offenses committed in an Anaheim home starting in 2011.
By Fernando Rojas ·
Tomas Cruz, a 69-year-old resident of Anaheim, received a prison sentence of 101 years to life on Friday for the sexual abuse of four girls. The verdict follows a trial that examined years of alleged misconduct within a family home.
Cruz was found guilty on August 19 of nine felony sex charges. Prosecutors stated the offenses began in 2011. The court imposed a term of 101 years to life, which is less than the maximum possible sentence of 193 years to life outlined in the sentencing brief.
Deputy District Attorney Scott Wooldridge described the case as a pattern of repeated abuse over multiple years. Wooldridge noted that the victims lived in the same house as Cruz. He stated that Cruz used his position of trust to assault his grandchildren rather than providing a safe environment.
Police testimony indicated that the victims were minors at the time of the attacks. One girl reported the abuse began when she was five years old. Another victim, who was seven months younger, said she was also molested. Two other girls testified that the abuse started when they were between the ages of six and ten.
The victims resided in a multifamily home with 16 relatives, according to police testimony from the preliminary hearing. Cruz’s defense attorney, Justin Kolacinski of the Orange County Public Defender’s Office, argued for a lighter sentence of 25 years to life.
Kolacinski pointed to a court-appointed psychologist’s conclusion that Cruz posed a low risk for recidivism. The psychologist attributed the behavior to a loss of identity following a disabling work injury. Kolacinski also presented 40 letters from supporters describing Cruz as a humble and family-devoted man who had never been known to behave improperly.
