A 34-year-old Hollister man accepted a plea deal for sexually assaulting a minor and was sentenced to 120 days in jail along with probation.
Hollister police in December 2014 arrested Candelario Juarez on suspicion of three counts of lewd and lascivious acts and one count of sexual battery against a child under age 14.
The district attorney’s office in April agreed to drop the three counts of lewd acts. Juarez accepted the felony sexual battery charge and reported to jail May 4. He must pay restitution of $2,640.
Juarez must register as a sex offender and serve four years of probation, according to court records. Juarez was eligible for work alternative or work furlough.
In November 2014, the Hollister Police Department received a report of a child under 14 being touched by a man in an inappropriate manner. At the time of the report, the minor was no longer in danger from the alleged suspect.
Representatives from the San Benito County District Attorney’s Office, child protective services, victim witness assistance and Hollister Police Detective Chris Wells conducted further investigation into the incident, according to police.
The investigation revealed several alleged incidents of lewd or lascivious acts against the minor over the period of more than a year, police reported.