Watsonville Man Pleads Guilty to Molesting Fiancé's Child

A Watsonville man accused of molesting his fiancé's daughter last summer pleaded guilty to four felony charges Monday, the District Attorney's Office reported.

Juan Antonio Del Valle, 32, faces up to 14 years in state prison.

Del Valle was arrested July 23, 2010,  at the on Holohan Road.

picked him up after the girl, then 7, told family members he touched her inappropriately. Relatives took the girl to Dominican Hospital, where medical staff called the police, according to the D.A.'s Office.

When Del Valle was jailed, the girl's mother accused her daughter of lying and said her fiance was innocent. The girl, whom Del Valle babysat while her mother was working, then recanted her allegations, the D.A.'s office reported.

But Watsonville police detective Albert Lopez had already obtained detailed admissions from Del Valle, in which the accused molester described how he touched the girl. His statements matched what the girl had originally said and hospital medical staff reported physical trauma to the girl that was consistent with Del Valle's statements, according to the D.A.'s Office.

Del Valle will be sentenced by Judge Ariadne Symons on July 22. He remains in County Jail.