LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – On Monday a Clearlake man was sentenced to 16 years in state prison for molesting an 11-year-old girl.
Daniel Joseph Brazil, 66, of Clearlake, was sentenced to 16 years in state prison following his guilty plea to two counts of molesting the girl in 2006, according to the Lake County District Attorney's Office.
On Aug. 12, Brazil pleaded guilty to two counts of committing a lewd act on a child by force or duress, as Lake County News has reported.
On Monday afternoon, Judge Andrew Blum sentenced Brazil to the maximum term of eight years on each count, to be served consecutively, the District Attorney's Office said.
The molestation was reported to law enforcement in late 2012. The victim, who currently lives out of state, was visiting relatives in Clearlake when she disclosed to an adult relative that several years previously, she had been molested by Brazil during an overnight stay at his house, and then again approximately a week later.
That relative immediately contacted the Clearlake Police Department. Det. Ryan Petersen initiated an investigation which led to charges against Brazil being filed this past April.
Because the charges are violent felonies, or strikes, Brazil must serve 85 percent of his sentence – 13 years and seven months – before he is eligible for release, the District Attorney's Office reported. Brazil also will be required to register as a sex offender for the rest of his life.
Brazil was represented by defense attorney Komnith Moth. The case was prosecuted by Deputy District Attorney Ed Borg.