56-Year-Old Soledad Man Sentenced to 18 Years in Prison for Child Molestation that Occurred in Soledad and Los Angeles County

SALINAS, California- Monterey County District Attorney Jeannine M. Pacioni announced on Tuesday, November 16 that the Honorable Rafael Vazquez sentenced 56-year-old Rosalio Rocha of Soledad to 18 years in prison for committing 2 counts of child molestation upon 2 victims. Both offenses are violent felonies and are considered “strikes” under California’s Three Strikes law. In addition to his prison sentence, Rocha was ordered to register as a sex offender for life. In August 2020, the first female victim told a friend that Rocha, a family member, molested her when she was under 14 years of age. The girl's friend informed another individual, who then reported the molestation to the Soledad Police Department. Detective Gustavo Gomez interviewed the first female victim who stated that Rocha molested her on several occasions, mostly over the clothing. Through Detective Gomez’s investigation, he discovered that another individual, involving a 2nd female victim had previously reported that Rocha, also a member of her family, molested her when she was under 14 years of age. In July 2010, the 2nd female victim informed deputies from the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department that Rocha molested her between 2008 and 2009 in Los Angeles County. Most of the molestation described by the 2nd female victim occurred over the clothes. The Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office declined to file charges in 2010. Detective Gomez re-opened the investigation in September 2020 regarding the molestation of the 2nd female victim. In October 2020, the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office agreed to cede jurisdiction over the molestation of the 2nd female victim to the Monterey County District Attorney’s Office. Pursuant to statute, this permitted the Monterey County DA’s Office to prosecute Rocha for his molestation of the 2nd female victim in Los Angeles County. The case was investigated by Detective Gustavo Gomez, Officer Flores, and Sergeant Areola from the Soledad Police Department. Both female victims were assisted by District Attorney Victim Witness Assistance Program Coordinator Alma Sanchez.