By Cathy Locke
clocke@sacbee.com
A Davis man has been sentenced to prison for molesting his teenage niece.
Yolo County Superior Court Judge Timothy L. Fall today sentenced Demetrio Burciaga, 46, to state prison for two years and four months for three felony counts of lewd and lascivious acts upon a child for the crimes committed against his 15-year-old niece. A Yolo County jury convicted Burciaga in November.
The conviction stems from Burciaga's lewd actions with his niece on Feb. 5, 2010. That morning, Burciaga molested his niece after she stayed the night at his house, according to a Yolo County District Attorney's Office news release.
The previous evening, Burciaga had picked up the girl at her Woodland home because she had gotten into a fight with her father. The following morning, he told her that she didn't have to go to school. After Burciaga's sons left for school, he and his niece were home alone. During the day, officials said, he molested the girl by inappropriately touching her, and told her not to tell anyone about what he did.
Later that day, the girl told relatives what Burciaga did to her, and a week later the molestation was reported to Yolo County Child Protective Services, which in turn notified the Yolo County Sheriff's Office. The ensuing investigation led to Burciaga's arrest.
During the trial, officials said, Burciaga admitted massaging his niece but denied that he had touched her on her body with his hands. The jury rejected his claims and found him guilty on all counts.
As a result of the conviction, Burciaga will be required to register as a sex offender for the rest of his life.
Call The Bee's Cathy Locke, (916) 321-5287.
About Comments
Reader comments on Sacbee.com are the opinions of the writer, not The Sacramento Bee. If you see an objectionable comment, click the "report abuse" button below it. We will delete comments containing inappropriate links, obscenities, hate speech, and personal attacks. Flagrant or repeat violators will be banned. See more about comments here.