Juvenile Sex Offender Sentenced to 18 Months Ankle Monitoring

(Woodland, CA) - October 14, 2025 - On October 8, 2025, Judge Tom Dyer sentenced Luis R., age 19, to eighteen months of GPS monitoring and wardship probation after finding Luis R. had committed multiple sexual assaults on an 8-year-old victim. Due to the nature of the charges, though tried in juvenile court, the proceedings and charges are not confidential.

On July 24, 2025, Judge Dyer of the Yolo County Superior Court, found true that Luis R. had committed forcible child molestation, forcible digital penetration on a child and forcible sodomy on a child. All these charges are violent felony sex offenses, and strike offenses if alleged against an adult, which would carry significant time in state prison and a lifetime sex offender registration. Prior to 2019, the now nineteen-year-old could have been tried in adult court after a transfer hearing decided by a judge. However, the Legislature changed that law which now prohibits prosecution in adult court for anyone under 16 regardless of the crime. Luis R. was fifteen at the time of the crime.

At sentencing, the District Attorney's Office argued that Luis R. be sent to a secure track facility that provides treatment in a custodial setting. Alternatively, the District Attorney's Office asked for a minimum of six years in custody at the juvenile hall.

The Yolo County Probation Department recommended GPS over confinement stating that while the law permits the Court to consider public safety and protection, it must be balanced against the care, treatment, and guidance to Luis R. Citing his employment, obtaining a GED, and socializing with age-appropriate adults, the Probation Department recommended a supervision plan which included no additional in custody time and standard juvenile sex offender terms of probation.

The Probation Department outlined that the conduct occurred four years prior and there was no evidence of further conduct targeting minor children after Luis was confronted by law enforcement. This supported the Probation Department's claim that there was no greater concern for public safety compared to other juvenile sex offenders. The Probation Department cited Welfare and Institutions Code 202, which emphasizes family reunification and, before removing someone from the home, the court must consider the minor's welfare and public safety. The Probation Department made the claim that it is challenging to describe Luis R. as a predator or a threat to public safety.

The facts presented at trial showed the 15-year-old groomed an eight-year-old child and committed forcible violent sex acts against the child. Evidence was also presented at trial that he groomed and molested two additional family members under the age of 10. These offenses all occurred while Luis R. was spending time with his young family members. Luis R. testified at trial that nothing happened.

In imposing 18 months of GPS monitoring, Judge Dyer stated that the law required the focus be on the rehabilitation of the minor. He also found that, due to the law, secure track was not an option because secure track does not have any programming which could rehabilitate Luis R. For these crimes, Luis R. served only 13 days in custody, prior to his trial. Because there are no new reported sex-based crimes alleged against him, Probation recommended, and the Court adopted the recommendation by Probation of GPS monitoring. The law requires the court to only impose the least restrictive punishment, even for violent sexual crimes like these. In addition to not being required to serve any additional time in custody for violent sex offenses, Luis R. also has no legal obligation to register as a sex offender.

The victim was left out of any recommendation or consideration by the Yolo County Probation Department or the law, despite guaranteed protections in the California State Constitution.

In 2023, the Legislature closed the Department of Juvenile Justice (DJJ). Juvenile offenders requiring a greater level of supervision and services may be sent to a Secure Track Facility. Not every county has such a facility, and not all facilities can treat sex offenders. Current law only requires juvenile sex offenders to register as sex offenders if they are sentenced to a term at DJJ. With the closing of DJJ, no juvenile in the state of California can be ordered to register as a sex offender. The Legislature is aware of this gap in the law and has refused to address or change it.

District Attorney Jeff Reisig stated, "This is an example of the law placing the criminal offender first, even after committing a violent sexual assault, and the victims of these crimes last. Victims are routinely ignored in the criminal justice system. Ignoring them is not justice, it is wrong. The Legislature should put victims of crime first and provide fixes to these issues."

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