Serial child molester gets 75-years-to-life

A Salinas man is headed to jail for a long time after being sentenced to 75-years-to-life in prison, plus an additional six years for molesting three girls. The crimes occurred between 2004 and 2013. The victims were all between 7 and 8 years old.

In March, a jury found Ernest Vega Morales, 47, guilty of numerous charges related to child molestation. In passing sentence, Judge Julie Culver added an additional six years to his sentence, saying his crimes involved great violence, great bodily harm and the threat of great bodily harm. One of his victims testified that Morales threatened to kill her family if she reported the crime.

Monterey County District Attorney Dean Flippo said under California’s Three Strikes Law, Morales’ convictions will amount to ten strikes. In addition to his jail term, he will have to register as a sex offender for the rest of his life.