People v. Lazaro CA2/2

FACTS AND PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND

When Jennifer F. (Jennifer) was three years old, defendant began to “bite” and lick her vagina. Over the next six years, he exposed himself to her, masturbated in front of her until “white stuff came out,” kissed and fondled her, performed oral sex on her, forced her to perform oral sex on him, and repeatedly penetrated her with his penis. Although Jennifer felt pain “every single time” he entered her, he ignored her protests and overcame her efforts to push him away. Defendant gained access to Jennifer through her parents, portraying himself as a healer with a spiritual “gift” who could alleviate pain through candlelit massage. He started massaging Jennifer when she was just three months old. He got Jennifer alone by sending her mother to church to pray and retrieve the holy water necessary to ward off malevolent spirits, and threatened Jennifer that harm would befall her mother and father if she told anyone about his sexual conduct. Indeed, defendant used the same technique—the threat of witchcraft-induced harm—to coerce Jennifer’s mother into having sex with him and keeping it secret. Defendant’s acts came to light after a surgeon treating…