Lindsay Man Sentenced to Life in Prison for Child Molestation

On January 23, 2020, in Department 5 of the Tulare County Superior Court, Visalia Division, the court sentenced Aristeo Sampablo, age 30, to 1,015 years-to-life in prison after being found guilty of 41 counts of child molestation last summer.

On July 11, 2019, Sampablo was convicted of six counts of sexual intercourse with a minor under the age of ten, three counts of sodomy with a minor under the age of ten, one count of digital penetration of a minor under the age of ten, and thirty-one counts of lewd act upon a child under the age of fourteen. The jury also found true the special allegation of substantial sexual conduct and that the crimes were committed against multiple victims. Each count is a felony and considered strike offenses.

The crimes occurred between March 7, 2015, and May 23, 2017, against two, separate female victims between the ages of six and ten at the time of the sexual assaults. All 41 crimes occurred in Tulare and Lindsay.

“Despite what seems like a life sentence without parole for these heinous crimes, that is unfortunately not the case. In 2017, the Legislature passed and the Governor signed AB 1448, which gives parole consideration to inmates age 60 or older who have served 25 consecutive years of a sentence,” said District Attorney Tim Ward. “This office will oppose any potential release.”

Sampablo will also be required to register as a sex offender for the remainder of his life.

The case was prosecuted by Deputy District Attorney Chelsea Wayt of the Crimes against Children Division and was investigated by Detective German Barrios of the Tulare Police Department.

Media inquiries can be directed to the Office of the District Attorney, County of Tulare Chief Deputy District Attorney Dan Underwood (559) 636-5494