Man who committed lewd acts with a child to get three years

STOCKTON -— A defendant who pleaded guilty to committing lewd acts with an 11-year-old girl will be sentenced to three years in state prison next month, a judge ruled this week.

Jesus Bejar Bermudez, 36, appeared before San Joaquin County Superior Court Judge Ron Northup on Tuesday and agreed, through a Spanish interpreter, to the terms of a plea deal arranged between his public defender and the District Attorney's Office.

Bermudez was arrested Dec. 7 by Stockton police following a report of having sexual contact with the child about Dec. 1.

The initial complaint filed against Bermudez charged him with four felonies including lewd or lascivious acts with a child under 14 years, citing "substantial sexual conduct"; assault with force likely to produce great bodily injury; criminal threats with intent to terrorize; and dissuading a witness by force or threat.

In the plea deal, the latter three charges were dismissed. In return, Bermudez agreed to plead guilty to committing lewd acts with the child.

When he returns to Department 8B at 8:30 a.m. May 22, Northup said Bermudez will be sentenced to the low term of three years in a state prison in which he could serve 85 percent of the term. Upon release from prison, he would be on parole from 10 years and six months up to 15 years and will be ordered to register as a sex offender for the rest of his life.

Bermudez also must pay restitution of between $300 up to $10,000 and show that he has complied with a firearms relinquishment order.

His conviction will count as one strike on his criminal record.