Ventura County Man Convicted of Yearslong Child Molestation: What This Means for California Survivors
A Ventura County jury convicted a Santa Paula man this week of molesting a young girl over a period of six years, a case that underscores how often childhood sexual abuse is committed not by strangers but by someone the family knows and trusts. Jaime Torres, 42, of Santa Paula, was found guilty on June 24, 2026, of aggravated sexual assault of a child, lewd acts upon a child, and continuous sexual abuse, the Ventura County District Attorney’s Office announced. Under California’s AB 218 (Code of Civil Procedure §340.1), survivors of abuse like this — whether or not the perpetrator is criminally convicted — have the right to pursue a civil lawsuit at any age, with no statute of limitations.
Prosecutors said the abuse occurred between 2012 and 2018, when the victim was under 14 years old. Torres was known to the girl, and the continuous molestation occurred at homes the two shared in Oxnard and Santa Paula. An investigation opened after the victim reported the abuse to a trusted family member in 2019. This article explains what the conviction means, what legal options survivors and families have — even in cases involving a family member or family friend rather than an institution — and how California law protects survivors’ right to seek justice.
Source: Compass Law Group | Childhood Sexual Abuse — Household & Family Perpetrators
Key Takeaways
- Jaime Torres, 42, of Santa Paula, was convicted by a jury on June 24, 2026, of molesting a young girl he knew between 2012 and 2018
- California’s AB 218 (CCP §340.1) eliminates the statute of limitations for childhood sexual abuse civil claims, regardless of the abuser’s relationship to the survivor
- A criminal conviction and a civil lawsuit are separate legal processes — survivors can pursue civil compensation independent of, or after, a criminal case
- Abuse by a known person — a relative, family friend, or household member — is treated the same under California civil law as abuse by an institution or stranger
What Happened in the Jaime Torres Case?
According to the Ventura County District Attorney’s Office, Torres was convicted after a jury trial of aggravated sexual assault of a child, lewd acts upon a child, and continuous sexual abuse. The jury also found true a series of aggravating factors, including that the victim was particularly vulnerable and that Torres took advantage of a position of trust and confidence. Senior Deputy District Attorney Ben Moreno, who prosecuted the case, said the verdict “holds the defendant accountable for the harm he caused and brings long-overdue justice to the victim and her family.”
Torres was remanded into custody following the verdict and faces up to 31 years to life in state prison at a sentencing hearing scheduled for July 27, 2026. Cases like this one are far more common than many people realize: national research consistently shows that the majority of childhood sexual abuse is committed by someone the child already knows, not a stranger — a relative, a family friend, a neighbor, or someone else with regular access to the home.
What Is California’s AB 218 Law and Why Does It Matter for This Type of Case?
AB 218, codified at California Code of Civil Procedure §340.1, eliminated the statute of limitations for civil lawsuits based on childhood sexual abuse. Before this law took effect in 2020, survivors generally had only a handful of years after turning 18 to file a claim — a window that is often far too short, since survivors frequently do not disclose abuse, or fully process its effects, until well into adulthood. AB 218 removed that deadline entirely for childhood abuse claims, allowing survivors to file at any age, regardless of how long ago the abuse occurred.
Critically, AB 218 applies whether the abuser was an individual acting alone — as in the Torres case — or an institution that enabled the abuse, such as a school, church, or youth organization. The law does not distinguish based on the relationship between the survivor and the abuser. What matters is that the abuse occurred while the survivor was a minor.
Can I Sue Someone Who Is Already Facing Criminal Charges?
Yes, and in fact many survivors and their attorneys deliberately pursue a civil case alongside or after a criminal prosecution. The criminal case — brought by the District Attorney’s Office, as in the Torres matter — exists to punish the offender through incarceration. The survivor is a witness in that process, not a party who receives compensation. A separate civil lawsuit is how survivors recover monetary damages: for therapy, medical care, lost wages, and the pain and suffering caused by the abuse.
A criminal conviction can substantially strengthen a related civil case, because many of the facts — including the abuser’s guilt — have already been proven to the higher “beyond a reasonable doubt” standard used in criminal court. Civil cases only require proof by a “preponderance of the evidence,” a lower bar. That said, survivors do not need to wait for a criminal conviction, or even for criminal charges to be filed, before pursuing a civil claim under AB 218.
Who Can Be Held Liable When the Abuser Is a Family Member or Family Friend?
In cases involving a family member, family friend, or other individual with regular access to the child’s home, the primary defendant is typically the individual abuser. However, an attorney will also investigate whether any other person or institution had knowledge of the risk and failed to act — for example, a school, daycare, religious organization, or another adult who was told about concerning behavior and did nothing. When an institution is also liable, it often has far greater financial resources than an individual defendant, which can significantly affect the compensation ultimately available to the survivor.
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Even when only an individual abuser is liable, a civil judgment remains enforceable for years and can attach to future wages, inheritances, or assets as they become available — something a criminal sentence alone cannot provide for a survivor’s recovery and treatment needs.
What Compensation Can Survivors Recover?
California law allows survivors of childhood sexual abuse to recover several categories of damages in a civil case. Economic damages cover quantifiable costs such as therapy, counseling, and other medical or mental health treatment, along with any lost earning capacity connected to the trauma. Non-economic damages compensate for pain and suffering, emotional distress, and the long-term impact on a survivor’s quality of life. In cases involving egregious conduct, punitive damages may also be available to punish and deter the wrongdoer.
- Therapy, counseling, and long-term mental health treatment costs
- Medical expenses connected to the abuse
- Lost wages and diminished future earning capacity
- Pain, suffering, and emotional distress damages
- Punitive damages in cases of egregious or malicious conduct
- Compensation for loss of enjoyment of life
Childhood Sexual Abuse in California — AB 218 Statute of Limitations | Source: CDC, CA Legislature | Compass Law Group
Source: Compass Law Group | Childhood Sexual Abuse — Household & Family Perpetrators
How Compass Law Group Builds Your Case
Compass Law Group, LLP has recovered more than $250 million for California clients and represents survivors of childhood sexual abuse — whether the abuser was a family member, family friend, teacher, coach, or any other individual or institution — on a No Win, No Fee basis. We handle every case with discretion and compassion, gathering the documentation, records, and testimony needed to build a strong claim under AB 218. If you or someone you love was abused as a child by someone you knew, you have the right to a free, confidential consultation to understand your legal options, regardless of how long ago the abuse occurred.
Steps to Take After Childhood Sexual Abuse Disclosure
- Ensure the survivor’s immediate safety, and contact law enforcement if there is any ongoing risk
- Understand that a criminal investigation and a civil lawsuit are separate — you do not need to wait for one to pursue the other
- Seek medical and mental health care for the survivor as soon as possible
- Document everything: dates, locations, any witnesses who were told about the abuse over the years, and any records that may exist
- Avoid confronting the alleged abuser directly, which can complicate both the criminal and civil processes
- Contact a California childhood sexual abuse attorney for a free, confidential consultation to evaluate your rights under AB 218
Q: Can I still file a civil lawsuit if my abuser is already going to prison?
Yes. A criminal conviction and a civil lawsuit are two entirely separate processes. Even after someone like Jaime Torres is sentenced criminally, survivors and their families can still file a civil lawsuit against him personally for damages — and a criminal conviction can make the civil case significantly easier to prove, since the facts have already been established beyond a reasonable doubt. California’s AB 218 (CCP §340.1) gives childhood sexual abuse survivors the right to sue with no statute of limitations, regardless of the criminal case’s outcome or timing.
Q: What is the difference between the criminal case and a civil case in a molestation conviction?
The criminal case is brought by the government (here, the Ventura County District Attorney’s Office) to punish the offender through prison time; the survivor is a witness, not a party to that case, and receives no direct compensation from it. A civil case is a separate lawsuit the survivor (or their family, if they are still a minor) files to recover monetary damages for the harm caused — therapy costs, medical bills, lost earning capacity, and pain and suffering. Survivors can pursue both simultaneously, and many attorneys wait for a criminal conviction before filing the civil claim, since it strengthens the case.
Q: How long do I have to file a civil lawsuit for childhood sexual abuse in California?
Under AB 218 (California Code of Civil Procedure §340.1), there is no statute of limitations for civil claims based on childhood sexual abuse. Survivors can file a claim at any age, no matter how many years have passed since the abuse occurred. This applies whether the abuser was a family member, a family friend, a teacher, a coach, or any other individual — and it also applies to any institution that knew or should have known about the abuse and failed to intervene.
Q: Can I sue someone who abused me even if they have no money or assets?
It is a fair concern — many individual abusers do not have significant assets to collect a judgment from. However, a civil judgment against an individual does not expire and can attach to future wages, inheritances, or assets for years to come. In addition, if any other party — a school, daycare, religious organization, or other institution — knew about the risk and failed to protect the child, that institution may also be a defendant with far greater financial resources. An attorney can evaluate whether any additional parties share liability in your specific situation.
Q: What if the abuse happened in my own home or a relative’s home?
Abuse by a family member, family friend, or another person with regular access to a child’s home is unfortunately common, and California law does not treat these cases any differently under AB 218. The statute-of-limitations elimination applies regardless of where the abuse occurred or the relationship between the survivor and the abuser. What matters is documenting the abuse — through law enforcement reports, medical records, therapy records, and witness accounts from anyone the survivor may have disclosed to over the years.
Q: Is my identity protected if I file a civil lawsuit related to childhood sexual abuse?
Yes. California courts routinely allow survivors of sexual abuse to proceed using initials or a pseudonym such as Jane Doe or John Doe to protect their identity, and sensitive records can be filed under seal. An attorney experienced in these cases will request these protections at the very start of the litigation, so your name does not become part of the public record simply because you are seeking justice.
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If you or someone you love was sexually abused as a child, Compass Law Group, LLP can help you understand your rights under AB 218 — no matter how long ago it happened. No Win, No Fee.
