A San Benito County resident is facing life behind bars after
being convicted late last week of sexually assaulting a teenage
girl at Bolado Park two years ago.
Hollister – A San Benito County resident is facing life behind bars after being convicted late last week of sexually assaulting a teenage girl at Bolado Park two years ago.
Corbett Le Grand, who was convicted of child molestation several years ago in Santa Cruz County, was convicted a second time by a jury last week for felony child molestation and lewd acts with a minor, according to District Attorney John Sarsfield.
Le Grand, 27, was accused of molesting the then-13-year-old in the back of a Suburban while her stepfather slept beside them as they waited to sign up for Pop Warner football, according to his attorney, Greg La Forge.
La Forge said he believed he had a strong case. The prosecution offered a plea bargain before the case went to trial, but his client turned it down because he claims he was innocent of the charges.
The plea bargain would have removed the prior conviction from being a factor in the case, and would have taken the possibility of life in prison off the table, he said.
After Le Grand declined to take the deal, the prosecution called a host of witnesses who testified about the child molestation in Santa Cruz County, which upped the ante for prison time.
“They (the prosecution) wanted to boot-strap the prior case onto this one,” La Forge said. “And unfortunately it worked.”
La Forge doesn’t believe his client deserves life and will argue a lesser sentence to a judge when Le Grand, who was released on his own recognizance after the verdict, is sentenced on Aug. 3.
“But I’ve never argued with a jury decision – the jury’s the finder of facts,” he said. “It’s the system.”
Sarsfield was pleased with the verdict, and ostensibly disagrees with La Forge’s assertion that his client was innocent.
“The jury disagreed, so I’ll leave it at that,” Sarsfield said. “He’s a twice convicted sex offender. He’s a threat to the public.”
Erin Musgrave covers public safety for the Free Lance. Reach her at 637-5566, ext. 336 or em*******@fr***********.com
