Jury Convicts Man of Sexually Abusing Three Children and Raping a Woman

Author: District Attorney
Date: 11/5/2026 10:09 AM

District Attorney Dan Dow announces the conviction of Jose Manuel Venturagarcia for years of sexual abuse against three young children and the forcible rapes of an adult woman, all of whom he knew and had access to through family and neighborhood ties.

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District Attorney Dan Dow announced today that a San Luis Obispo County jury has convicted Jose Manuel Venturagarcia (DOB 02/11/1993) of all 24 charged counts, including two counts of forcible rape, two counts of forcible sexual penetration, 18 counts of lewd acts upon a child under 14 years of age (17 of them by force), criminal threats, and possession of child sexual abuse material commonly described as child pornography.

The jury also found true the special allegations that the crimes were committed against multiple victims and found true the aggravating factors that the victim was particularly vulnerable and that the defendant held a position of trust and confidence with respect to the victims. These factors allow the sentencing judge to impose a higher sentence. The jury began deliberating at 10:39 a.m. on November 3, 2026, and returned its verdicts at 2:40 p.m. on November 4, 2026. Sentencing is scheduled for December 16, 2026.

"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," said 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."

"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. 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."

Following a 19-day jury trial in which 21 witnesses testified, the jury found Venturagarcia guilty of:

• Forcible rape in violation of Penal Code section 261(a)(2) (Counts 1 and 3), with the special allegation of multiple victims under Penal Code section 667.61(b) and (e);
•  Sexual penetration by force in violation of Penal Code section 289(a)(1)(A) (Counts 2 and 4), with the special allegation of multiple victims under Penal Code section 667.61(b) and (e);
•  Forcible lewd act upon a child under 14 in violation of Penal Code section 288(b)(1) (Counts 5 through 19, 22, and 23), each with the special allegation of multiple victims under Penal Code section 667.61(j)(2);
• Criminal threats in violation of Penal Code section 422(a) (Count 20);
• Lewd act upon a child under 14 in violation of Penal Code section 288(a) (Count 21), with the special allegation of multiple victims under Penal Code section 667.61(j)(2); and
• Possession of child sexual abuse material in violation of Penal Code section 311.11(a) (Count 24).

The crimes occurred in Paso Robles between January 2020 and July 2024.

The trial process:

The evidence at trial showed that Venturagarcia sexually abused a young girl in his extended family for more than two years, beginning when she was about eight years old. The abuse took place repeatedly, often in his vehicle while the child's mother was at work.

To keep her silent, Venturagarcia slapped her, pulled her hair, grabbed her by the neck, threatened to kill her mother, and showed her a weapon he kept in the center console of his vehicle. The child disclosed the abuse in July 2024, and her mother then came forward to report that Venturagarcia had also raped her on two occasions, in December 2021 and January 2022. She had stayed silent for years because, she said, Venturagarcia told her no one would listen to her and no one cared about her besides her children.

Venturagarcia was arrested on July 7, 2024. A forensic examination of his cell phone found images of a young boy that formed the basis of the lewd-act conviction in Count 21, along with child sexual abuse material. Investigators also connected Venturagarcia to a separate 2023 report in which another young girl, who had lived in the same apartment complex, disclosed that he had sexually abused her on two occasions when she was about nine years old.

Witnesses called by the People included Paso Robles Police Department Corporal Walter Canizalez, Sergeant Brenden Neary, Corporal Elizabeth Place, Officer Niles Hemingway, and Community Services Officer Alissa Reina; District Attorney Senior Investigator Rene Vasquez; Program Manager Rob Swift of the Central Coast Cyber Forensic Lab; Criminalist Rebecca Cheng of the California Department of Justice; expert witnesses Dr. Blake Carmichael, Ph.D., and Dr. Nisha Abdul Cader; as well as members of the defendant's family and a school counselor for one of the children. The defendant testified in his own defense.

Venturagarcia faces a maximum sentence of 510 years to life plus 3 years and 8 months in state prison. He is not eligible for probation and will be required to register as a sex offender for life under Penal Code section 290.

Sentencing is scheduled for December 16, 2026, in Department 5 of the San Luis Obispo County Superior Court, the Honorable Timothy S. Covello presiding. Venturagarcia has been in custody since his arrest in July 2024 and remains in custody without bail pending sentencing.

This case was investigated by the Paso Robles Police Department and the San Luis Obispo County District Attorney Bureau of Investigation. The case was prosecuted by Deputy District Attorney Kalina Laleva of the District Attorney's Sexual Assault Prosecution Team. Victim services were provided by the District Attorney's Christopher G. Money Victim Witness Assistance Center, including Assistant Director Divina Diaz and Witness Coordinator Eloiza Basinger.

Child victims of sexual abuse are never to blame, and help is available. Anyone who suspects a child is being abused can call the San Luis Obispo County 24-hour Child Abuse Hotline at (805) 781-KIDS (5437) or toll-free at 1-800-834-KIDS (5437) (County of San Luis Obispo). Survivors of sexual assault can receive free, confidential support 24 hours a day through the Lumina Alliance Crisis and Information Line at 805.545.8888, and through the District Attorney's Victim Witness Assistance Center at 805.781.5821. In an emergency, call 911.

Here is a copy of the charging document. Here is a copy of the defendant's booking photo.

Please contact Assistant District Attorney Eric J. Dobroth at 805.781.5819 with any questions.
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