Juan Sanchezflores convicted of rape by force/violence causing pregnancy to a minor

Author: District Attorney
Date: 11/20/2024 4:09 PM

District Attorney Dan Dow announced today that Juan Sanchezflores (DOB 09/07/1980) was sentenced to serve 25 years to life in state prison for rape of a minor that resulted in pregnancy.

District Attorney Dan Dow announced today that Juan Sanchezflores (44) of Santa Maria has been sentenced to serve 25 years to life in state prison for his conviction of rape by means of force or violence and inflicting great bodily injury on a 16-year-old victim. Sanchezflores is now required to register as a sex offender for the remainder of his life.

"Predators are not welcome here. Any person who commits a violent crime such as this will be vigorously prosecuted by this office," said District Attorney Dan Dow. "My heart goes out to this survivor, and I am grateful for her courage to seek assistance from the criminal and victim justice system. I hope that this case serves to encourage all other survivors to report knowing that they will be heard and advocated for in San Luis Obispo County."

The lengthy sentence is the result of Sanchezflores' plea of guilty to rape by force or violence and his admission that he personally inflicted great bodily injury. The great bodily injury enhancement to the sentence is based on the young survivor becoming pregnant because of the crime.

The assault occurred about May 2019 on a rural property near Lopez Lake, when the victim was 16 years old. The young survivor is referred to as Confidential Victim in court documents to maintain her confidentiality and privacy as a survivor of sexual assault.

The case was investigated by San Luis Obispo County Sheriff's Detectives Patricia Montalvo and Wade Knowles with the assistance of the District Attorney's Office Bureau of Investigation and was prosecuted by Deputy District Attorney Kristin Barnard of our Sex Crimes Prosecution Unit. Victim Advocate Divina Diaz assisted the victim through the justice process.

Here is a copy of the defendant's booking photo. Here is a copy of the charging document.

Please contact Assistant District Attorney Eric J. Dobroth at 805.781.5819 with any questions.
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