Visalia man gets 31 years for child molestation

A Visalia man was sentenced to 31 years in prison Wednesday for having “substantial sexual contact with a child under 14,” the Tulare County District Attorney’s office said.

Timothy Chavez, 43, was convicted on Aug. 18, 2015 of twelve counts of lewd acts on a child under 14, one count each of contacting a minor with the intent to commit a lewd act on a child and indecent exposure, the DA said.

The jury also found the special allegation that Chavez had substantial sexual conduct with the child.

The molestation occurred between 2006 and 2011 against a girl who was between the ages of 6 and 12 at the time.

A second victim testified at trial.

Chavez was convicted in 1992 of molesting a 10-year-old girl, the DA said.

Twelve of Chavez’s crimes are considered violent felonies and strikes under California’s “Three Strikes Law,” the DA said. He will be required to register as a sex offender for the remainder of his life and pay restitution to the victim.

This story was originally published November 18, 2015 at 10:25 PM with the headline "Visalia man gets 31 years for child molestation."