A Redwood City man has been found guilty of several counts of forcible rape and sexual assault on at least four young Redwood City girls and faces 11 years in prison for the crimes - but, if he gets his way, the convictions could be overturned and he could be granted a new trial.
Gabriel Jason Cavazos, now 33 years old, is charged with the forcible rape of at least one girl and sexual assaults and lewd acts on three other girls, as well as holding them against their will. At least three of the girls have been confirmed to be minors at the time.
In May of 2012, a jury of Cavazos' peers found him guilty of all charges - misdemeanor sexual battery, misdemeanor false imprisonment, felony forcible rape, felony false imprisonment, felony communication with a minor to commit a lewd act, felony lewd act on a child, and misdemeanor false imprisonment.
However, Cavazos now claims his attorney who represented him in the trial, Jeff Jackson, was "incompetent," and he is requesting a whole new trial.
On September 25, 2009, Cavazos reportedly met two young high school girls at the Metro PCS store in Sequoia Station in Redwood City. It appears he may have misrepresented himself as someone who worked in the modeling industry, and who could help the two girls get modeling jobs. Cavazos and the two girls exchanged phone numbers and MySpace information.
Later, after one of the two girls texted Cavazos to say she did want to pursue work in modeling, Cavazos reportedly texted her back and asked her to send him naked pictures of herself.
Later, the San Mateo County District Attorney's Office reported that Cavazos picked the girl up from school and took her back to his house, where he took off her clothes, down to her bra and underwear, under the pretense of taking pictures of her to help her get modeling work. He reportedly kissed her back and neck while taking the photos.
When he drove her back to school, he reportedly stroked her thighs during the drive, and when they arrived, he said he would not let her out of the car unless she kissed him. The victim told the DA's Office she kissed him in order to be let out of the car, at which time Cavazos told her he wanted "to make babies with her when she turned 18" that December.
The other girl he met at Sequoia Station met Cavazos at a party around the same time, where many people were drinking. The DA's Office reports that Cavazos followed her into the bathroom at the party, where he forced her down on the floor and raped her. Later, during a phone call, Cavazos reportedly admitted to having sex with her that night, but claimed it was consensual. Three weeks after the incident, the victim reported the incident as rape.
Cavazos is also charged with interactions with two other minor victims, who are sisters. Cavazos reportedly met the two sisters walking down the street in Redwood City. He approached them and they exchanged contact information.
Later, Cavazos reportedly invited the two girls over to this house to "hang out." The DA's Office reports that the four of them went into Cavazos' bedroom, where he asked them "if they were going to have sex."
One of the girls reportedly got upset and left the room. The other girl reportedly hesistated, then decided to leave, but Cavazos grabbed her and would not let her go. Cavazos reportedly then "began groping her and grabbed her breasts."
Eventually, the sisters said Cavazos let her go, and the two left his house.
When Cavazos learned that the Redwood City Police Department was investigating him for all of the above incidents, he reportedly fled to Mexico, but was caught eight months later attempting to re-enter the United States at the Mexico border.
The DA's Office also reports that, on at least two other occasions, Cavazos was sentenced to state prison for prior felony convictions.
On Friday, a hearing in San Mateo County court in Redwood City was held, on Cavazos' claim of his attorney's incompetence.
Cavazos himself, along with his mother and his former attorney, Jeff Jackson, all testified in the hearing, according the to the DA's Office.
Cavazos is now being represented by a new attorney, Steven Whitworth.
The hearing on Cavazos' request for a new trial will continue this Wednesday.
If convicted, Cavazos faces up to 11 years in prison for all of the above charges relating to the four female victims.
Cavazos currently remains in custody without bail.
Do you think 11 years is a suitable sentence for the crimes Cavazos is convicted of? Tell us your opinion in the comments below.
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