Sentencing was reset to Oct. 30 Tuesday for an ex-con who molested his live-in girlfriend’s preteen daughters and abused their mother in Blythe.
Francisco Bejarano Manjarrez Jr., 36, faces a possible life sentence stemming from his conviction last month on five counts of committing a lewd act against a child under 14 years old by using force and one count of domestic battery.
Manjarrez remains behind bars without bail at the Smith Correctional Facility in Banning while awaiting sentencing.
One of two young girls victimized by Manjarrez testified early in the three-week trial that the defendant would take her into his room most Wednesdays when she got off early from school while her mother, who was dating Manjarrez, was still at work. She was 10 years old at the time.
According to Deputy District Attorney Anne-Marie Lofthouse, Manjarrez’s actions came to light in 2017, when the younger sister admitted to being molested by Manjarrez. The older daughter then revealed he had molested her around 2010 and 2011, when she was between 8 and 9 years old.
Manjarrez also abused their mother, leaving her with visible marks and bruises, and on one occasion, breaking her nose. They all lived with Manjarrez over several years in multiple Blythe houses throughout that time, prosecutors said.
The older daughter told investigators he would hold her down during the alleged encounters, which she said always occurred in Manjarrez’s bedroom when her mother was out of the house.
Manjarrez has prior felony convictions in Riverside County, including spousal abuse and being a felon in possession of a firearm.