GILROY
– A 32-year-old Gilroy man pleaded not guilty Monday to charges
of sexually abusing a young girl.
GILROY – A 32-year-old Gilroy man pleaded not guilty Monday to charges of sexually abusing a young girl.
Jose Castillo, an unemployed laborer at the time of his arrest and a non-U.S. citizen, stands accused of molesting a young girl twice, once when she was between 7 and 9 years old and once when she was 9 or 10. He is charged with two felony counts of performing a lewd and lascivious act with a child under the age of 14, plus a misdemeanor count of annoying or molesting a child. He faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison, according to prosecuting attorney Sam Liccardo.
His trial is scheduled to begin Sept. 27. He has been in Santa Clara County jail since his Jan. 28 arrest, with bail set at $200,000.
The alleged victim, now 11, told police in January that Castillo molested her at least once while she slept in her bed, according to court documents.
Castillo, when interviewed by police, denied ever molesting the girl in any way.
Castillo was originally accused of sexually abusing a second girl as well, but after investigation the district attorney’s office charged him for only one victim.
