Grandfather Sentenced to Century in Prison for Assaulting Four Young Relatives

Tomas Cruz will spend at least the next 101 years in state prison after a judge handed down a sentence on Friday for the sexual abuse of four girls in Anaheim. The 69-year-old was convicted on August 19 on nine felony counts, capping a legal process that traced the offenses back to 2011.

The court records show Cruz lived with the victims in a multifamily residence shared with 16 other relatives. This close proximity allowed him to exploit a position of trust, according to Deputy District Attorney Scott Wooldridge. Wooldridge noted in a sentencing brief that the defendant took advantage of his role as a grandfather to provide a safe environment, instead subjecting the children to repeated abuse over several years.

Police testimony at the preliminary hearing indicated the abuse began when the victims were very young. One girl reported the assault started when she was five years old. Another victim, who was seven months younger, was also molested at that age. A third girl was assaulted starting at age 10, while the fourth was between six and seven years old when the attacks occurred.

Prosecutors sought the maximum penalty of 193 years to life, citing the pattern of conduct. Cruz’s defense attorney, Justin Kolacinski of the Orange County Public Defender’s Office, argued for a lesser sentence of 25 years to life. Kolacinski presented a court-appointed psychologist’s evaluation, which concluded Cruz had a low risk of recidivism. The psychologist attributed the behavior to a loss of identity following a disabling work injury, a dynamic common in incest-type cases.

The defense also submitted 40 letters supporting Cruz. Kolacinski wrote that these letters consistently described him as a hardworking and humble man who helped those around him. The attorney emphasized that Cruz was never known to behave improperly before this conviction. The judge ultimately rejected the defense's leniency argument, imposing the 101-year term.