Monterey County District Attorney Jeannine M. Pacioni announced on Monday, February 4 that 47-year-old Jose Luis Limon Mata of Soledad was convicted in a jury trial of 3 felony counts of corporal injury on the mother of his children, assault by means likely to produce great bodily injury and false imprisonment by violence. Mata is now facing 5 years in state prison.
Mata and the mother his children were in a romantic relationship for many years and they had 2 children together. Mata refused to acknowledge fathering the children though, but helped pay some of the bills. On July 18, 2018, Mata and the mother of his kids had an argument over his infidelity, financial issues and his refusal to acknowledge paternity of his 3-year old daughter and 12-year-old son. During the argument, the mother of his children saw some text messages from another woman on Mata’s phone and threw the phone at him. At some point during the argument, she got up to leave the living room and Mata followed her and punched her once, causing her to fall onto on the living room floor. He then got on top of her and placed one leg over her and held her down. With his left hand, he grabbed her neck and squeezed it tightly, which made it difficult for her to breathe. With his right hand, he punched her face and head repeatedly, causing bruising and swelling on her face and a scalp laceration. She scratched Mata with her fingernails trying to get away, but he overpowered her by forcing his body onto hers. The 12-year-old boy heard this mother scream and ran into the living room area with a belt. The boy hit Mata with the belt, which caused Mata to disengage. Mata then turned to the boy and said he was the boy’s real father. The boy was shocked - all his life he had known Mata as his uncle.
On the stand, Mata claimed self-defense, testifying that the mother of his kids attacked him first due to jealousy and anger issues. Mata sustained scratches and a bloody wound on his chest, which he claimed the victim inflicted on him because of her emotional problems. Additionally, Mata’s church pastor and another character witness testified to his character for peacefulness. During his testimony, Mata claimed he was unable to make a fist due to a prior injury. However, when pressed during cross-examination, Mata admitted that the injuries on the victim were caused by punches, which then led to his ultimate admission that he knows how to make a fist with his hand.
Mata’s sentencing hearing is scheduled for February 28, 2019 before Judge Carrie M. Panetta. This case was thoroughly investigated by Officers Fernando Flores and Jose Contreras from Soledad Police Department, as well as District Attorney Investigator Jorge Gutierrez.
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