Ventura County prosecutors: Man sentenced to 30 years in prison for sexually abusing his little sister

A San Diego County man has been sentenced to 30 years in prison after pleading guilty to charges of repeatedly sexually abusing his younger sister while the two lived in Ventura County.

The victim first reported the crimes in 2019. Stephen Delacruz was a teenager when the crimes were committed in the early 2000s. Investigators say he threatened to kill the then-eight-year-old girl if she reported the incidents.

He was originally scheduled to face trial in juvenile court, but Ventura County prosecutors wanted to try him as an adult. A long legal battle ensued that ended in 2023 when a judge ruled that Delacruz could be tried as an adult.

Before the trial could begin, the now 34-year-old man pleaded guilty to eight counts of sexual assault.