Man sentenced to one year in sex abuse case
Posted: Tuesday, Feb 1st, 2011
BY: TODD GUILD
A Watsonville man arrested in July for sexually abusing a 14-year-old girl was sentenced Monday to one year in Santa Cruz County Jail, Assistant District Attorney Andrew Isaac said.
John Nicholas Deanda, 23, will also have to register as a sex offender and complete a treatment program for sex offenders.
Deanda was initially facing four years in prison. His sentence was shortened because the court was concerned that Deanda is “significantly developmentally delayed,†Isaac said.
Deanda has been held in Santa Cruz County Jail on $50,000 bail since his arrest.
According to Isaac, the victim is a ward of the court in another state, where her caregivers agreed with the judge’s decision, not wanting the girl to be subjected to a trial.
“She has significant challenges of her own,†he said.
Deanda’s father, John Charlie Deanda, 46, is accused of abusing the same girl. His trial is pending.
