Fresno County judge gives child predator lengthy sentence, ensuring life in prison
A Fresno man was sentenced to 160-years-to-life on Monday for sexually assaulting his former girlfriend’s 12-year-old daughter.
A Fresno County jury convicted Steve Joseph Reyes, 47, in September of four felonies: two counts of sexual intercourse or sodomy with a child 10 years or younger and two counts of oral copulation of a child 10 years or younger.
At his sentencing, Judge Alvin M. Harrell III denied a request from public defender Angelica Rivera for a new trial. Harrell gave Reyes a total of 160 years in prison. His conviction netted him 80 years, but a prior felony strike for first-degree armed robbery doubled his total prison sentence.
With the lengthy sentence, the chance of Reyes ever being released from prison is unlikely. Deputy District Attorney Amy Cobb said Monday she was pleased with the outcome and hopes the victim can find some solace in the lengthy prison term for her abuser.
“The sentence handed down in this case reflects the seriousness of the actions taken by the defendant and the harm he caused the victim,” she said. “The victim can now feel safe knowing that the defendant will not have the ability to hurt her or anyone else in the future.”
The victim, who was under the age of 10 when she was assaulted, testified during Reyes’s trial from a separate courtroom via live video because of her fear of the defendant.
She told the jury about how Reyes sexually abused her for several months. The victim testified with the emotional support of one of the Fresno County District Attorney’s newly acquired service dogs.
The two specially trained Goldendoodles, named North and Nikko, are used to comfort victims in court who have been traumatized by crime.
