A Mountain View man accused of having sex with two underage girls while working as a counselor at a youth group home is facing eight years in prison after he pleaded no contest Thursday to felony child molestation, unlawful sexual intercourse with a minor and dissuading a witness, according to the San Mateo County District Attorney’s Office.
Francis Caceres, 30, was arrested in January of 2017 after investigators determined he had sexual relations with a 14-year-old girl he met the prior summer while working at Your House South, a group home for troubled teens run by the nonprofit StarVista. Caceres was terminated from his position at the Redwood City facility after staff found out about the alleged abuse, which reportedly did not occur at the group home. Weeks after the case came to light, additional felony charges were filed against him when another teen resident of the facility came forward claiming she was also a victim, prosecutors said previously.
Caceres allegedly had sex with the first victim to step forward Dec. 23, 2016, after they began meeting at places away from the youth home where the girl was staying. Starting when the second victim was 13, Caceres allegedly flirted with her and started a sexual relationship with her involving molestations occurring in the group home’s recreation room. He was working at Tayler Group Home in San Jose when he was arrested Jan. 12, 2017, according to prosecutors.
Caceres will next appear in court Feb. 22 for sentencing and receipt of a restitution memo. He will be required to register as a sex offender for life, and remains in custody on $1 million bail, according to prosecutors.
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Noting the youth who are in group homes are dealing with complicated pasts, District Attorney Steve Wagstaffe said he viewed Caceres’ conduct to be deplorable and worthy of a lengthy prison sentence.
“He was given the duty to help them, to mentor them … instead he took advantage of them for his own sexual purposes,” he said. “I’m glad that those victims can put it behind them and move on.”
Caceres’ attorney Steve Chase could not be immediately reached for comment.
Matthew Graves is serving 4 years in prison, for dissuading a witness. David Bohannon arrested twice DV and Violating a Restraining Order aka dissuading a witness in 5 days never appeared in court. Thank You D.A. Steve Wagstaffe
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Thank you DA Wagstaff.
Matthew Graves is serving 4 years in prison, for dissuading a witness. David Bohannon arrested twice DV and Violating a Restraining Order aka dissuading a witness in 5 days never appeared in court. Thank You D.A. Steve Wagstaffe
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