Jury Convicts 33-year-old Greenfield Man on 4 Counts of Child Molestation Involving 4 Victims

 

SALINAS, California- Monterey County District Attorney Jeannine M. Pacioni announced on December 13

that a jury found 33-year-old Gustavo Espinoza Villalobos of Greenfield, guilty of 3

counts of Penal Code section 288(a) – lewd or lascivious acts on a child under the age of 14, and

1 count of Penal Code section 647.6 – annoying or molesting a child under the age of 18. The jury also

found true the multiple victim enhancement for each count of Penal Code section 288(a).

In December of 2018, Detective Joseph Dyles of the Greenfield Police Department spoke with John

Doe 1, who was 12 years old at the time. John Doe 1 disclosed to Detective Dyles that Villalobos

molested him when he was 10 years old. At the time of the molestation, Villalobos resided near

John Doe 1 in Greenfield. Further investigation led to disclosures by John Doe 2, 3, and 4 that

Villalobos, a family member, also molested them. These molestations occurred when John Doe 2

was 12 years old, John Doe 3 was 9 years old, and John Doe 4 was 11 or 12 years old. All 4

victims delayed reporting the incidents for years. According to research into sexual assault victim

behavior, it is very common for victims to delay reporting the sexual abuse, especially when the

victim is a minor and has a close relationship with the perpetrator. Shortly after these accusations

came to light, Villalobos fled the county to Mexico. He was apprehended in 2023 at the border and was

extradited to Monterey County to face prosecution for his crimes against John Does 1, 2, 3, and 4.

Villalobos faces up to 75 years to life in prison. All 3 Penal Code section 288(a) offenses are

serious and violent felonies and are considered strikes under California’s Three Strikes Law.

Villalobos will also be ordered to register as a sex offender.

This case was investigated by Greenfield Police Detective Joseph Dyles and King City Police

Sergeant Joshue Partida. District Attorney Investigator Rebecca Ayala conducted follow-up

investigation on the case. John Does 1, 2, 3, and 4 were assisted by the District Attorney’s Office

Victim Witness Program Manager Alma Sanchez. Court Facility Support Dog, Norma Jeane,

provided John Doe 1 with much needed support after his testimony at trial.