Dinuba Man Convicted of Sex Crimes, Witness Intimidation

Monday in Department 4 of the Tulare County Superior Court, Visalia Division, TCDA prosecutors secured a guilty verdict against Manuel Luis Villarreal, age 39, for the sexual assault of a child and an adult female.

The crimes were committed from August 2013 to March 2022 in both Dinuba and Tulare.

While Villarreal was in custody following his arrest, he attempted to bribe and intimidate the victims to discourage their testimony against him.

At trial, a Tulare County jury convicted Villarreal of two felony counts of forced oral copulation, 10 felony counts of child molestation, two felony counts of dissuading a witness, two felony counts of attempted dissuading a witness, and one misdemeanor count of contempt of court. The sexual assault crimes are considered strikes under California’s Three Strikes Law.

Sentencing is scheduled for September 30, 2026, where Villarreal faces life in prison.

Media inquiries can be directed to the Office of the District Attorney, County of Tulare
Communications Director Stuart Anderson (559) 636-5494