On January 23, 2011, Tulare County Superior Court Judge Brett Alldredge sentenced 32-year-old Anthony Vincent Ruiz, a Visalia resident, to two years in state prison for molesting a child under the age of 18.

On December 20, 2011, defendant Ruiz pled to four felony counts, including one count of unlawful sexual intercourse with a person under the age of 18, one count of lewd and lascivious acts with a child of 14 or 15 years, one count of oral copulation with a person under 16 years of age, and one count of distributing pornographic material to a minor. Between May 1, 2011 and August 11, 2011, Ruiz, a friend of the victim’s family, engaged in sexual conduct with the victim, and sent her graphic text messages.

Ruiz will not be eligible for parole until he serves eighty-five percent of his prison term. He will also have to register as a sex offender for life.

The case was prosecuted by Deputy District Attorney Erika Ziegenhorn and investigated by Officers Rosa Moreno, Timothy Ramirez, and Todd Davis of the Tulare Police Department.

Media inquiries can be directed to the Tulare County District Attorney’s Office, Assistant District Attorney
Shani D. Jenkins (559) 636-5494.