A 28-year-old man pleaded guilty Wednesday and was immediately sentenced to 10 years in prison for sexually assaulting a 10-year-old girl, who had moved in with him from Guatemala, in Santa Ana.
Jose Eduardo Pachecopaz pleaded guilty to four felony counts of lewd acts with a minor younger than 14 years old. As part of his plea deal, a count of oral copulation or sexual penetration with a child 10 or younger was dismissed.
Pachecopaz molested the victim in 2018, according to court records. He forced her to watch pornography while he touched himself, police testified at his preliminary hearing. Police also testified he threatened to kill her while holding a gun if she told anyone, according to court records.
Pachecopaz has been in custody since Jan. 11, 2021.