SAN JOSE
– A judge delayed the sentencing Tuesday of a Morgan Hill man
who pled guilty to several sexual assaults, but he is still
expected to spend the rest of his life in prison.
SAN JOSE – A judge delayed the sentencing Tuesday of a Morgan Hill man who pled guilty to several sexual assaults, but he is still expected to spend the rest of his life in prison.
Superior Court Judge Marilyn Zecher delayed the sentencing of 40-year-old Hector Sanchez for one week in order to review the proposed sentence – which includes multiple counts that involve different sentencing guidelines – to ensure all legal details are correct and the case does not return on appeal.
“It’s a complicated sentencing,” Zecher said during the hearing.
Five days into his trial in March, Sanchez pleaded guilty as charged to sexually assaulting four women. He entered his plea after the prosecution’s statement but before witness testimony.
According to prosecutors, the case involved sexual assaults in Gilroy, Morgan Hill and San Jose during December 2001 and January 2002.
On Dec. 9, 2001, Sanchez abducted a 42-year-old Gilroy woman, drove her to a secluded area, threatened her with a knife and attempted to sexually assault her before she escaped.
In January 2002, he sexually assaulted and robbed a 68-year-old woman at her home in Morgan Hill.
Sanchez also raped and robbed a 48-year-old San Jose woman in her home and attacked a 46-year-old San Jose woman in her office who escaped.
He was arrested when police spotted the Morgan Hill victim’s van – which he had stolen – parked outside a motel on Monterey Road in San Jose.
Sanchez is expected to serve several consecutive life sentences, with eligibility for parole coming as many as 75 years from now or longer.
“His eligibility for parole won’t come up until after his life expectancy,” said Deputy District Attorney Ben Field, who prosecuted the case.
Sanchez is now slated for sentencing May 13.
