Oxnard man sentenced to more than 78 years in molestation case

A 70-year-old Oxnard man has been sentenced to more than 78 years in prison as part of a sexual molestation case involving three female relatives.

Salvador Banales was sentenced on Friday to 78 years and eight months to life by Ventura County Superior Court Judge Gilbert Romero.

Banales was convicted in September of seven felony counts of lewd and lascivious acts involving girls who were 15 or younger. Five of the counts involved girls under 14. Jurors also found true several special allegations.

More local news:One flown to hospital after vehicle crashes off Pacific Coast Highway

The crimes took place between 2005 and 2018, according to the Ventura County District Attorney's Office. They involved two female relatives who are now adults and a 12-year-old relative, said Senior Deputy DA Erik Nasarenko, who prosecuted the case. One of the crimes was caught on a home surveillance camera.

The case was investigated by the Oxnard Police Department, which arrested Banales in August 2018.

Gretchen Wenner covers breaking news for the Ventura County Star. Reach her at gretchen.wenner@vcstar.com or 805-437-0270.