King City man sentenced for child molestation

Monterey County District Attorney Dean D. Flippo announced on Tuesday, May 15 that Judge Carrie Panetta sentenced 66-year-old Margarito Juarez Zamarron of King City to a term of 25 years to life and a consecutive 15 years to life in the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation. On April 9 of 2018, a jury of 7 men and 5 women found the defendant guilty of 1 count of a forcible lewd act upon a child of 6 years of age, 2 counts of a lewd act upon a child of 13 years of age and 1 count of a lewd act upon a child of 14 years of age. In addition, the jury found true a special allegation that the defendant committed lewd acts upon more than 1 victim. The panel deliberated for 2 hours after hearing testimony from the victims, who are currently 19, 18, and 15 years of age. In 2016, 1 victim reported to the King City Police Department that she was touched in 2006 by the defendant, an extended family member. During the investigation completed by the King City Police Department and a Monterey County District Attorney’s Sexual Assault Unit Investigator, 2 more victims came forward. During the April trial, the jury also heard evidence of a 2016 Facebook conversation the defendant had stored in his Ipad wherein he was communicating with another 14-year old girl over a period of months. All 3 victims bravely testified in court before the defendant and the jury. One of the girls was accompanied by “Odie” the District Attorney’s Office Comfort Dog.  Judge Panetta ordered the 40 years to life commitment as well as another term of 25 years to life and a single 2-year term to run concurrently. A restraining order was granted prohibiting contact with the 3 victims for a period of 10 years. At Tuesday’s sentencing hearing, the mothers of each of the victims made statements which described the long-term effects of child molestation. The case was investigated by King City Detective Joshue Partida and DA Investigator Jorge Ramirez.