A man who repeatedly sexually assaulted a Blythe girl was sentenced Friday to 16 years, eight months in state prison.
Jesus M. Galvan, 58, pleaded guilty in March to seven counts of lewd acts on a minor and one count each of statutory rape, sexual penetration of a child with a foreign object, oral copulation of a minor and possession of an assault weapon.
No charges were dismissed in his plea to Riverside County Superior Court Judge Susanne Cho. During a hearing at the Larson Justice Center in Indio Friday, she imposed the stipulated sentence.
According to a sheriff’s declaration in support of an arrest warrant, in the winter of 2017, Galvan’s former girlfriend approached detectives, saying she believed he was having an “inappropriate relationship” with her daughter’s friend.
The declaration indicated that social media conversations uncovered messages in which the victim, whose name was not disclosed, acknowledged sleeping with the defendant nearly a dozen times over an unspecified period, expressing fears about pregnancy and the possibility of blaming it on someone else.
Detectives interviewed Galvan, and he admitted “things happened (with the victim) that other people would look down upon,” according to the affidavit.
According to court papers, a cell phone video was discovered during which Galvan and the victim made obscene gestures while lying next to one another in a bed.
Investigators said two of Galvan’s children witnessed improper behavior between him and the victim.
The girl initially insisted nothing “inappropriate happened between her and (Galvan).” However, a forensic examination showed there had been activity, pointing to molestation by the defendant, according to the declaration.
Galvan was arrested without incident in July 2017, but he posted bond and had been free awaiting trial.
He has no documented prior felony convictions in Riverside County.