LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — A Clearlake man has been sentenced to 12 years in prison for sexually assaulting a minor girl over an extended period of time.
Paul Mathew Thomas Fortino, 29, of Clearlake pleaded no contest to continuous sexual abuse of a minor, said Deputy District Attorney Rich Watson.
Watson said Fortino was sentenced for the charge on Jan. 30.
The charges stem from a report to Clearlake Police Department by a detective from another state on Jan. 18, 2021.
Det. Lee Walker notified the Clearlake Police Department that Fortino, while living in Clearlake, had sexually assaulted a 12-year-old minor starting in July 2019 and continuing through March 2020. The family of the victim subsequently moved out of state.
The investigation showed that Fortino provided the minor with nicotine vapes and marijuana and had sex with her multiple times over a 10-month time period.
After the girl and her family moved out of state, Fortino continued to contact her via social media and engaged in lewd and lascivious conduct with her.
The penal code gives a sentencing range of six years, 12 years or an upper term of 16 years in state prison for for continuous sexual abuse of a minor, Watson said.
Recent changes in the California Penal Code limits the court from imposing the upper term for most felony offenses if the defendant was under the age of 26 at the time of the offense.
Defense attorney Justin Peterson of Ukiah, who represented Fortino, argued that the low term of six years would be the appropriate sentence based on mitigating factors, including that the defendant was under the age of 26 during when the offense first started and the fact that the defendant had no prior criminal record.
Watson argued that the middle term of 12 years should be imposed due to the manner in which Fortino targeted the minor, concealed the assaults, and continued to pursue and assault his victim even after the victim moved out of state with her family.
Judge Andrew Blum imposed the middle term of 12 years in state prison. Judge Blum based his decision on several factors including the fact that Fortino groomed the minor, mentally manipulated her and concealed the locations where the assaults occurred.
Conviction for that charge also limits accrual of work time credits to no more than 15%, Watson said.
The girl’s family told Lake County News that it was a miracle she survived, and they wanted a formal, public apology from the Clearlake Police Department and the District Attorney’s Office over the case’s handling.
They called Fortino “a dangerous pedophile” who they said should have received a mandatory life sentence because that is what he has given his victims.
“Our daughter will live in constant fear for the rest of her life due to Paul Fortino’s actions,” the victim’s family said. “Paul Fortino has shown no remorse. He has stolen our daughter’s innocence in the most violent way and left a lifetime of horrible memories and scars. He stole our daughter’s childhood and those precious milestones can never be replaced.”
The California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation reported that Fortino has been transported to North Kern State Prison, a medium security prison that also serves as a reception center for inmates.
He will be eligible for parole in July of 2031.
Clearlake man sentenced for continuous sexual assault of a minor
- LAKE COUNTY NEWS REPORTS
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