People v. Villegas CA2/7

INTRODUCTION

Joel Villegas appeals his convictions for contact with a minor with intent to commit a sexual offense and two counts of annoying or molesting a child. He contends there is no substantial evidence to support the jury’s guilty verdict on these counts. We affirm.

FACTUAL AND PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND

A. The Information In 2023, Villegas was charged with contact with a minor with intent to commit a sexual offense (Pen. Code, § 288.3, subd. (a)1; count 3), two counts of annoying or molesting a child (§ 647.6, subd. (a)(1); counts 5 and 7), and destroying or concealing evidence (§ 135; count 6).2 Villegas was tried by a jury.

B. The Trial Evidence The People introduced evidence that Villegas sent sexual messages and videos to Naomi when she was 12 years old.

Unspecified statutory references are to the Penal Code. There were no additional counts charged in the information, and these charges were later renumbered for purposes of trial as Counts 1 through 4. Although the counts are not listed chronologically, the parties use the original numbering in their appellate briefing, and we adopt their usage.

2 1. People’s Evidence on Count 7 for Annoying or…