Jury Convicts Matthew Roland Betts of Sexually Molesting Two Children
Author: District Attorney
Date:
7/5/2019 6:53:32 PM
District Attorney Dan Dow announced today that a San Luis Obispo County jury found San Luis Obispo resident Mathew Roland Betts (DOB 06/11/1972) guilty of nine counts of felony child molestation; including three counts of sexual penetration of a child under the age of ten and six counts of lewd act on a child under the age of fourteen.
District Attorney Dan Dow announced today that a San Luis Obispo County jury returned guilty verdicts this afternoon convicting San Luis Obispo resident Mathew Roland Betts (DOB 06/11/1972) of nine counts of felony child molestation. Betts was convicted of three counts of sexual penetration of a child under the age of ten and six counts of committing a lewd act on a child under the age of fourteen. All of these charges are considered violent crimes pursuant to Penal Code section 667.5.
The jury also made special factual findings that Betts’ criminal conduct involved multiple victims and involved substantial sexual conduct which provides for an enhanced prison sentence under California law.
The crimes charged in this case were committed against two separate victims, one of whom was victimized for a period of nearly one year. Evidence presented during the trial proved that Betts molested one victim in late March of 2016 and had molested another victim previously and on multiple occasions between September 2012 and September 2013. The jury returned their verdicts at approximately 1:00 p.m. today after a two-week trial and one-half day of deliberation.
“Justice was served today because two brave young ladies had the courage to come forward and tell the jury about the defendant’s terrible acts,” said Deputy District Attorney Lisa B. Muscari. “The jury heard the victims loud and clear in finding the defendant guilty of sexually molesting them. We thank the jury for their time and attention in this very difficult case and thank the victims and their families for their resilience and patience through this process.”
Sentencing is scheduled for August 12, 2019, in Department 8 of the San Luis Obispo County Superior Court, the Honorable Judge Matthew Guerrero presiding. Betts faces multiple life-terms in state prison. Each charge of sexual penetration of a child under the age of ten carries a sentence of 15 years-to-life in state prison. The jury’s finding that the offenses involved multiple victims, one of whom was under the age of fourteen, carries a sentence of 25 years-to-life in state prison.
The case was prosecuted by Deputy District Attorney Lisa B. Muscari and investigated by the San Luis Obispo City Police Department.
Point of contact for media inquiries is Assistant District Attorney Eric J. Dobroth (805) 781-5819.