(Yuba-Sutter, CA) – In Yuba County Court, a judge has found accused child molester John Manuel Cardoza, Jr. guilty on eight counts. That includes forcible acts on a child 10 or younger and continuous sexual abuse of a child.

In the case of Cardoza Jr., the abuse occurred over a period of five years, in both Yuba and Sutter Counties. Cardoza Jr. is described in a Yuba County D.A. press release as a trusted acquaintance of the victim’s family.

The investigation was launched in October of last year, when the victim wrote a letter to her mother telling her what had been happening for years, detailing that Cardoza Jr. had threatened to harm the victim’s siblings if the victim told anyone, but that the victim had become scared of seeing Cardoza Jr. again and had to tell.

Cardoza Jr. waived his rights to a jury trial, the judge found him guilty. He now faces over 100-to-life when sentenced next month.