A Santa Paula man who spent years sexually abusing two young children inside their own home has been sentenced to more than two decades behind bars — and prosecutors say only the victims’ courage brought him to justice.
Leonel Galindo, 37, was sentenced on July 30 to 22 years in California state prison after pleading guilty to eight counts of lewd acts upon a child.
What He Did
Galindo was not a stranger to his victims. He was someone the children knew — someone they trusted — and he used that closeness to repeatedly molest them at their Santa Paula home over the course of two years, between 2018 and 2020.
Both victims were under the age of 14 at the time the abuse occurred.
How He Was Caught
Authorities launched an investigation into Galindo’s conduct, and on May 29, 2025, he was taken into custody outside his workplace in Ventura County.
On June 22, 2026, Galindo entered a guilty plea to all eight counts. He also admitted to a special allegation — that he had deliberately exploited a position of trust and confidence to gain access to the children.
The Sentence
The 22-year prison term was handed down by a Ventura County court on July 30.
Senior Deputy District Attorney Emily Reber, who led the prosecution, addressed the weight of what the survivors endured to reach this moment.
“The defendant relied on silence and fear to shield him from accountability,” Reber said. “But the courage of the survivors proved stronger than both. This sentence reflects their strength and the justice they fought so hard to obtain.”
What This Means
Cases involving child sexual abuse within the home are among the most difficult to prosecute — victims often know their abuser personally, making it harder to come forward.
The 22-year sentence sends a clear message: no relationship, no position of trust, and no amount of silence will permanently protect those who prey on children.