Simi Rapist Gets 91 Years on 39 Counts

Convicted rapist Victor M. Becerra will, in all likelihood, spend the rest of his life behind bars after a judge sentenced the 28-year-old Simi Valley man Friday to nearly 92 years in prison.

A jury had earlier convicted Becerra of 39 sex crimes for raping or molesting 10 Simi Valley girls 12 to 15 years old last summer. Becerra met his victims in video arcades, convenience stores and other teenage haunts in Simi Valley.

He told the girls his name was Ruben and that he was 19. He would lure them to his house and ply them with alcohol and marijuana before raping them.

Investigators said Becerra impressed the girls--several of whom testified they had been struggling with addiction and dependency problems--with his car and store of alcohol and drugs.

“The crimes displayed a high degree of callousness and were committed for his selfish pleasures,” Superior Court Judge Frederick Jones said. “This defendant represents an extreme and exquisite danger to society.”

Becerra showed little emotion through most of the two-hour hearing, fingering his mustache as Jones ticked off the charges and the corresponding sentences for each: “. . . Count 28: three years. Count 29: four years. Count 30: three years . . . “

It took Jones nearly two hours to read the charges and sentences, while attorneys kept track with calculators. Jones ruled that most of the crimes were “separate and distinct” instances and warranted consecutive sentences.

Becerra flashed a grin during the proceedings, smiling broadly when Jones fined him $10,000 and began discussing parole. Because of the nature of his crimes, prosecutors said, Becerra must serve close to 85% of his sentence.

Becerra will be eligible for parole when he is 108, prosecutors said.

Before the math began, the father of one of Becerra’s victims tearfully asked the judge to show no mercy. “The bond of trust between my daughter and I is gone,” he said.

Three of the girls he assaulted sat huddled together and sobbing in the gallery with their parents.

“To think this creep was almost my son-in-law,” one mother said.

Police arrested Becerra in October after a 15-year-old girl complained to authorities about an attack. Other girls came forward after his arrest and testified against him at his trial. They said Becerra hung out at the Family Fun Zone and 7-Eleven and other convenience stores, all of which had video games.

On Friday, Becerra apologized to the girls and asked Jones for forgiveness in a brief prepared statement.

“I’m sorry and regret what I did,” Becerra said as the victims and their families scoffed in the gallery.

“It’s easy to say you’re sorry when you’re going to prison,” commented the mother of one of the victims.

Deputy Dist. Atty. Michael Frawley said Becerra could have been sentenced to up to 219 years and argued for the maximum sentence. Becerra’s attorney, Brian Boles, offered no argument as it became clear that the former factory worker would receive a harsh sentence.

“The defendant is not eligible for probation,” Jones said in an understatement before handing out a sentence of 91 years and eight months.

“Each of these victims were particularly vulnerable because of their ages and some of the problems they had,” Jones said.