A Santa Paula father and son pleaded not guilty to a combined 16 felony counts in Ventura County Superior Court on Aug. 3 in a molestation case of three girls.
Ramon Godinez Sr., 80, was charged with six felonies, including five counts of forcible lewd acts on a child and one count of lewd act with a child, according to county court records.
His son, Ramon Godinez Jr., 49, was charged with 10 felonies, including five counts of forcible lewd acts on a child, two counts of aggravated sexual assault with a child, two counts of unlawful acts with a child aged 10 or under and one count of dissuading a victim from reporting a crime.
Both men also denied several special allegations, including that the victims were vulnerable and that they were in a position
of trust, court records show. Such allegations carry with them the possibility of increased sentencing if found guilty.
The pair was arrested on Aug. 1 after a Santa Paula Police Department investigation found that the men had allegedly molested three girls over several years, according to a department news release.
Police also conducted a warranted search of the home where the two reside.
The police department is investigating the men and officers believe that there could be additional victims. They have requested that anyone who believes they were a victim of the men call Detective Yvette Solis at 805-826-7512.
The father and son were booked into Ventura County jail without bail, and they are scheduled to return to court on Sept. 10.
Ernesto Centeno Araujo covers breaking news for the Ventura County Star. He can be reached at ecentenoaraujo@vcstar.com, 805-437-0224 or @ecentenoaraujo on Instagram and X.
This article originally appeared on Ventura County Star: Santa Paula father, son plead not guilty in yearslong molestation case
