People v. Romandia CA6

I. FACTS AND PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND

Romandia met the minor victim through social media when she was 13 years old.2 For three years thereafter, Romandia used social media applications (Instagram and Snapchat) to maintain contact with the victim. In February 2019, when the victim was 16 years old, she and Romandia engaged in oral copulation and unprotected sexual intercourse at Romandia’s worksite. The following day, the victim sent a text message to Romandia and asked him to take her to a medical facility to obtain birth control. While in Romandia’s car, the victim realized Romandia was not driving her to the medical facility and threatened to jump out of the car. Romandia and the victim also had sexual intercourse that day. Romandia was aware that he was more than three years older than the victim. The next day, the victim’s father learned of the interaction between the victim and Romandia and notified law enforcement. In May 2019, the Santa Cruz County District Attorney filed a complaint charging Romandia with contacting a minor to commit a sexual offense (§ 288.3, subd. (a); count 1), oral copulation with a minor (§ 287, subd. (b)(1); count 2), and two counts of unlawful sexual…