Child molester to be sentenced

A 25-year-old Madera man convicted of molesting a 6-year-old girl will be sentenced by Judge Mitchell C. Rigby on Sept. 25 in Dept. 29 of Madera County Superior Court, according to authorities.

Valeriano Racines was convicted of “lewd or lascivious acts with a child” by a jury following a felony criminal trial that ended Aug. 24. If denied probation, he faces imprisonment in state prison for three, six or eight years and will have to register for the rest of his life as a sex offender, according to California Penal Code 288(a).

Madera County District Attorney David A. Linn said, “I commend the courage of the child victim and her family who reported the incident to law enforcement so that this predator can be held accountable for his actions.”

Linn thanked Madera Police Cpl. Alicia Keiser “for her thorough investigation” and Madera Community Action Partnership/Victim Services “for services provided to the child and her family throughout the court process.”

Linn has told the Merced Sun-Star that the molester was an acquaintance of the victim’s family.