SANTA ANA, California – A 66-year-old former school teacher who traveled to the Philippines to engage in sex with two young girls and produced videos of the abuse was ordered to serve 190 years in federal prison.
Robert Ruben Ornelas, a resident of Santa Ana, received the 2,280-month sentence from United States District Judge Cormac J. Carney.
Ornelas was found guilty in November by a federal jury of seven counts – two counts of engaging in sexual conduct in a foreign place, three counts of producing child pornography, and two counts of possessing child pornography.
Prosecutors pointed out that Ornelas’ history of sexually abusing minors extended back to the 1960s.
The two victims traveled to the United States to testify during the trial about the sexual assaults, and made statements at today’s hearing. One of the victims said: ‘Why did I meet this person? He destroyed my dreams.’
United States Attorney Eileen M. Decker said: ‘Today’s sentence ensures life imprisonment for this predator whose history of abusing minors began a half-century ago.’
The investigation into Ornelas began in 2013 when federal authorities received a tip that he possessed a large quantity of child pornography. During the execution of a search warrant, investigators found images, videos and information on Ornelas’ computer and digital media.
Related Federal Cases
- Robert Ruben Ornelas, Child Sex Abuse, California 2023 · Florida
- Robert Ruben Ornelas, Child Sex Tourism, California 2024 · Wyoming
- John Robert Remlinger, Child Sex Exploitation, California 2023 · California
- Kameron E. Tolbert, Child Sex Exploitation, California 2022 · Ohio
- Nathanial Alfonso Burke, Attempted Child Sex Meeting, California 2024 · Florida
Key Facts
- State: California
- Category: Sex Crimes
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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