Petaluma Man Sentenced to a Life Term in Prison for Aggravated Sexual Assault of a Child

51-year old Filemon Hernandez, of Petaluma, CA was sentenced to prison for a term of 24 years to life, for numerous sexual assault crimes involving a child under the age of 14.  He previously pled to the charges of Aggravated Sexual Assault on a Child, Attempted Aggravated Sexual Assault of a Child, and Lewd Act on a Child under 14 years old.  The life sentence was imposed by the Honorable Christopher Honigsberg.  The charges resulted from a series of sexual assaults, which culminated in forcible rape, which the victim suffered during the summer of 2012, when she was just 12 years old. 

Although it is a life sentence, under current parole rules in California, the defendant will be eligible to ask the parole board for release on parole after serving 17 years of his sentence. 

District Attorney Jill Ravitch stated “this brave young survivor was just a child when she was

repeatedly abused by this predator throughout the summer of 2012.   This sentence reflects the gravity of the crimes committed.”

The case was prosecuted by Deputy District Attorney Ashley W Hendon, assisted by District Attorney Investigator Robyn Katz.  The case was investigated by the Petaluma Police Department.