Newhall Couple Convicted of Sexual Abuse of 10 Children

LOS ANGELES – A Newhall couple pleaded no contest in court today to the sexual abuse of 10 children, the LA District Attorney’s officials said.

The two are facing charges relating to the sexual abuse of 10 children between the ages of 3 to 15-years-old from January 2001 to December 2015. Victim’s included family members, family friends and children of friends of 42-year-old Francisco Avendaño, prosecutors said.

Avendaño pleaded no contest to the 12 counts of lewd act upon a child under 14, two counts of lewd act on a child 14 years old and one count each of lewd act upon a child 15 years old and continuous sexual abuse. His girlfriend, who lived with him at the time, 32-year-old, Jacqueline Wadsworth pleaded no contest to a single count of lewd acts upon a child under 13.

Avendaño and Wadsworth will be returning to the San Fernando Superior Court for sentencing on August 3rd. Avendaño is expected to be sentenced to 49 years in prison. Wadsworth’s sentence is still yet to be determined but sentencing will include probation and mandatory enrollment in a sexual compulsion program.

Both Avendaño and Wadsworth will be lifelong sex offender registrants.

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