A Salinas man has been sentenced to 15-years in prison on Tuesday for molesting a child.

Monterey County District Attorney Jeannine M. Pacioni announced his sentencing for performing one count of continuous sexual acts with a child under 14-years-old and two counts of committing a lewd act on a child under 14-years-old. 

These charges are considered violent felonies and ‘strikes’ under California’s Three Strikes Law. 

The man has been identified as 45-year-old Jose Tamayo.

Salinas Police Department says that the young girl told the staff at her school on Oct. 4, 2016, that Tamayo was sexually assaulting her. She said that he had been molesting her since she was 5-years-old up until Oct. 1, 2016.

At the sentencing on Tuesday, the young girl addressed the court and said what effects this has had on her. 

“After today, I can say I am a survivor, and I truly believe it from within. After coming up here today, I feel complete, as if this [was] my last step of healing. I accept what happened to me, but it does not define me. I’ve learned to turn negatives into positives…I am not happy with the assault, but it has made a survivor out of me.”

Judge Mark E. Hood said that the girl showed strength and courage in coming forward. He also hopes that Tamayo will someday understand the ‘true nature and horror’ of what he has done.

Officials say Tamayo will also be required to register as a sex offender for life. A restraining order has been granted for a period of 10 years, which is the maximum term under the law, prohibiting Tamayo from contacting the girl. 

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