Man convicted of sexually abusing girlfriend’s kids faces jail time

A man convicted of physically and sexually abusing his girlfriend’s three children is expected to be sentenced Friday to 30 months in jail.

The abuse committed by Tito Castro, 39, of Los Angeles came to light last summer when the children — ages 8, 10 and 12 — were removed from their mother’s custody and placed in foster care.

Castro was convicted of six counts, including one count of child molestation, one count of oral copulation of a minor under 18, three counts of statutory rape, and one count of child abuse causing mental suffering.

City prosecutors this week also charged the children’s mother, Elizabeth Gonzalez, 39, with six counts of child abuse and failing to protect her children.

Authorities learned of the allegations after the 10-year-old victim told her older brother that Castro had sexually abused her. The brother in turn informed their foster mother, who reported the abuse to authorities.

According to city prosecutors, the 10-year-old told investigators that Castro had sexually abused her for months and that she tried to tell her mother but her mother did not believe her. Prosecutors alleged Castro physically abused the children and took naked photographs of them.

In addition to a 30-month jail sentence, prosecutors are asking that Castro be ordered to register for life as a sex offender, get five years of probation and 52 sessions of psychological counseling.

Castro is expected to be forbidden from going near Gonzalez’s family for 10 years.

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