450 Years to Life for Porterville Predator

On Thursday, April 2, 2026, in Department 10 of the Tulare County Superior Court, Visalia Division, the court sentenced Steven Avila, age 33, to 450 years to life in prison for crimes against two children.

At trial, a Tulare County jury found Avila guilty of eighteen counts of lewd act upon a child under the age of fourteen, one count of contacting a minor for a sexual offense and one count of sending harmful material to a minor. TCDA prosecutors secured the guilty verdicts on February 23, 2026.

The jury also found true the special allegation of substantial sexual conduct and that the crimes occurred against multiple victims. Each count is a felony and eighteen of the counts are considered strike offenses.

Sixteen of the crimes occurred between July 17, 2018, and July 16, 2021, against a female victim, who was between the ages of eleven and thirteen at the time of the sexual assaults. Four of the crimes occurred between January 1, 2020, and July 21, 2021, against a female victim, who was between the ages of four and five at the time of the sexual assaults. The crimes were committed in the City of Porterville.

In addition to his sentence, Avila will be required to register as a sex offender for the remainder of his life. 

The case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Chelsea Wayt and investigated by the Porterville Police Department.

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