Jury convicts Moorpark man, 58, of lewd acts against three young girls

A Ventura County Superior Court jury deliberated for four hours before finding Santiago Treviso, 58, guilty of six counts of lewd acts against children.

Ventura County District Attorney Gregory D. Totten said last week that the Oct. 3 conviction resulted from an investigation that began in 2005, when two young girls told police that Treviso had fondled them inappropriately when they were 7 and 8 years old, in 2000 and 2001.

The girls were neighbors of Treviso's in a Moorpark condominium complex, and after they reported his conduct to authorities, another neighbor girl, 11, came forward to accuse him of similar acts against her in 2004 and 2005.

Police conducted interviews and executed search warrants at Treviso's home and workplace. He reportedly admitted to harboring sexual feelings for young girls but denied he had touched them inappropriately.

All of the girls said they had become friendly with Treviso and visited him in the two garages he had at the complex. They reported that he had lizards and other animals they liked to see and said he had allowed them to help him restore an old truck in one of the garages. During that interaction, they said, he fondled them and attempted to put his hands under their clothing.

All three girls testified at the weeklong trial, which began Sept. 26. Sentencing is set for Oct. 31 in Courtroom 47 before Superior Court Judge Ed Brodic.

Because the jury found Treviso guilty of lewd acts against more than one victim, he is eligible for separate sentences of 15 years to life in prison in each girl's case, or a maximum of 45 years to life.