Convicted For Tricking Young Girl Into Sex

November 14, 2003
A Palm Springs man was sentenced to 50 years to life in prison for molesting two neighbor girls, including an 11-year-old convinced by a phony doctor letter that sex would be healthy for her.

Superior Court Judge James Hawkins told Luis Cifuentes, 36, on Wednesday that his conduct was particularly egregious because of his position of trust, the vulnerability of the 11- and 8-year-old victims and his scheme to get the 11-year-old to have sex with him.

Cifuentes was convicted by a jury in September on 12 counts of lewd acts with a child under 14 as well as special allegations of multiple victims and substantial sexual conduct.

Deputy District Attorney Kirsten Seebart said the crimes occurred in July and August 2002. Cifuentes had sexual intercourse with the 11-year-old and fondled the younger one, Seebart said. The girls lived next door to Cifuentes. Hawkins denied a request by Deputy Public Defender William Maxwell to allow Cifuentes to serve his life sentences at the same time instead of consecutively. The prosecutor, who argued Cifuentes engaged in a "predatory scheme" to get the girl to have sex with him, said Cifuentes gave the girl a forged letter from a doctor saying that to grow up and develop into a physically strong and healthy person, it was time for her to experience sex. When Hawkins asked Cifuentes if he had anything to say, the Guatemala native replied, "I am guilty. There is nothing else I can say. You guys have your laws in how you handle this."