SAN MARTIN
– A judge delayed a plea hearing on Tuesday for the second time
during a court date for a 23-year-old unincorporated Gilroy man
charged with sexually assaulting a local girl under the age of
14.
SAN MARTIN – A judge delayed a plea hearing on Tuesday for the second time during a court date for a 23-year-old unincorporated Gilroy man charged with sexually assaulting a local girl under the age of 14.
Pablo Enrique Castillo will now enter his plea on Dec. 10, giving his defense attorney time to view the District Attorney’s evidence and prepare a case, according to the court hearing Tuesday.
If convicted for the multiple counts of aggravated sexual assault of a child under 14 years old, Castillo could face life in prison. He is currently in protective custody in county jail with $1 million bail.
“In a case this serious I want to make sure I have enough time to review the DA’s evidence before entering a plea,” said Enrique Colin, Castillo’s attorney with the Office of the Public Defender.
Castillo was arrested by Santa Clara County Sheriff’s deputies on Oct. 18 after the sheriffs seized at least one
home video tape from Castillo’s home that showed a young, naked girl.
Authorities were tipped off about the alleged assault when a co-worker of Castillo’s notified the Hollister Police Department that Castillo might be involved in child pornography.
The co-worker told police that Castillo had solicited him to purchase a videotape of Castillo and a minor child in various sexual acts for an unspecified price.
The Santa Clara County Sheriff’s Department is asking anyone with information relevant to this case or about Castillo to call 808-4500, and ask for Contreras, Sgt. Noah Brommeland or Guy Kuyat.
