SALINAS, California- Monterey County District Attorney Jeannine M. Pacioni announced On Thursday, October 22 that on Tuesday, October 20, Robert Cabral Salazar from Delhi, California was sentenced to a total term of twenty-two (22) years and eight(8) months in the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation for the forcible sexual assault committed on April 2, 2019 at the victim’s family ranch in southern Monterey County.
On April 3, 2019, Jane Doe was overheard on the phone by her caregiver, promising the defendant
that she would keep their secret. Jane Doe’s caregiver immediately called Jane Doe’s aunt, who
questioned the victim about what she had said on the phone. Jane Doe wrote on a piece of paper (a
common method of communication for Jane Doe) “sex” and explained that “Salazar told her that it
was a good time, but Jane Doe said it wasn’t.” The Monterey County Sheriff’s Office and the
Monterey County Sexual Assault Response Teams were activated after being notified by the aunt of
the contents of the conversation.
Jane Doe was forensically interviewed at the Bates Eldridge Child Advocacy Center where she
outlined hours of sexual assault by the defendant, who was a visitor to the family ranch while Jane
Doe’s parents were out of town. The defendant knew Jane Doe, her entire life and was aware of her
disability. Jane Doe’s pajamas, which she was wearing at the time of the assault, tested positive for
the defendant’s DNA when examined by the Department of Justice Jan Bashiniski DNA Laboratory
Criminalists.
Jane Doe bravely testified before Judge Mark Hood at the preliminary hearing conducted on August
15, 2019.
On September 15, 2020, the defendant pled to one count of forcible rape, one count of forcible
sodomy, one felony count of dissuasion of a victim, and admitted to having a 1987 prior “strike”
conviction from Stanislaus County for forcible rape. After much contemplation by the victim’s
family, a plea agreement was reached in which Salazar, age 61, would serve twenty-two (22) years
and eight(8) months in prison, register as a sex offender for the rest of his life, and have no contact
with Jane Doe.
During the sentencing hearing, Jane Doe’s words of pain and torment from that night were read by
her aunt. The court also heard from Jane Doe’s mother in painstaking detail how the defendant’s
sexual assault has affected not only Jane Doe’s emotional health and progress on her road to an
independent living situation, but how it has impacted every member of their family.
In rendering the twenty-two (22)-year eight (8)-month sentence, Judge Hood commended Jane Doe
for her courage and tremendous efforts to hold the defendant accountable.
The defendant was ordered to register as a sex offender for life and prohibited contact with Jane
Doe.
The case was investigated by Deputy Lanny Tipton, Detective Rosia Silva, Sergeant Bryan
Hoskins, Monterey County Sexual Assault Response Team, and District Attorney Investigator
Oliver Minnig. The victim and family were assisted by Alma Sanchez, Victim Assistance Program
Coordinator of the District Attorney’s Office.
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