A San Joaquin County judge has sentenced 72-year-old Lonnie Smith to 450 years to life, plus two counts of life without parole, for multiple counts of child molestation, according to the San Joaquin County District Attorney’s Office.
Smith, a repeat offender from Anderson, California, was convicted on eight counts of child molestation involving multiple victims. The crimes involved three separate victims, all of whom were under the age of 13 at the time of the abuse.
Authorities classified Smith as a serial child molester, citing his two prior convictions for lewd acts with a minor in 1983 and 1988. Victims from those previous cases testified in court, providing further evidence of his long history of abuse.
San Joaquin County District Attorney Ron Freitas strongly condemned Smith’s actions and the severity of the crimes, stating, “This sentence is a thundering verdict against evil. We have not just closed a case; we’ve fortified our community against predators. Let this be known: in San Joaquin County, we do not merely pursue justice, we enforce it with unrelenting vigor.”
The San Joaquin County District Attorney’s Office acknowledged Judge Mallett for his firm judgment, the jury for their service, and the Stockton Police Department for their investigative work. Deputy District Attorney Carrie Lawrence was also recognized for leading the prosecution.
This article is a summary of reporting by FOX40.