The 28-year-old Hollister man accused of lewd acts with four
minors on church grounds has accepted a plea deal that could result
in a maximum sentence of 13 years in prison, according records and
his attorney.
The 28-year-old Hollister man accused of lewd acts with four minors on church grounds has accepted a plea deal that could result in a maximum sentence of 13 years in prison, according records and his attorney.
Ruben J. Matuk, of Hollister, was accused of 14 felony and misdemeanor counts alleging lewd and lascivious acts, molesting, indecent exposure and sexual battery, according to records. Investigators allege the crimes occurred at the Apostolic Full Gospel Church of Christ, 1515 Santa Ana Road, and also at Matuk’s residence adjacent to the church address. Matuk’s father is the church pastor.
He has accepted a plea deal and is scheduled for a sentence hearing June 12, according to records. The agreement resulted in dismissing “about half” of the charges, said his attorney, Elvira Zaragoza Robinson. She confirmed the maximum penalty is a 13-year sentence, but she did not have the case file on hand for additional details before publication.
In February, Matuk waived the right for a preliminary hearing at which a judge would have decided if there was enough evidence for a trial. Robinson said the two sides waived the preliminary hearing to prevent having the suspected victims testify. In the meantime, as prosecutors and the defense had been negotiating over a possible plea deal, Matuk had pleaded not guilty to the charged.
The allegations first filed Nov. 17 accused Matuk of lewd acts and indecent exposure with two girls, ages 12 and 15 at the time, along with sexual battery to one of them. Prosecutors had alleged the crimes started in September 2003 and occurred into September of this year. The district attorney’s office then filed an amended complaint Dec. 8 that included two more suspected victims.
The amended complaint alleged Matuk in May 2002 and May 2004 committed felony oral copulation of a person under 18 to a Jane Doe 3, while the suspected victim was age 14 at the time, according to court records. It further alleges in August 2009 he committed annoying or molesting a child, a misdemeanor, to a fourth suspected victim who was age 14 at the time, according to court records.
