SAN FRANCISCO—On July 8, the SFDA’s Office revealed that a conviction was obtained against
Marvin Sotorizo, 45, after a trial by jury, for orally copulating two unconscious people in his home in 2017. He was convicted of two counts of oral copulation on an unconscious person (PC 287(f)).
According to testimony and evidence presented at trial, Sotorizo used his position of trust and authority as a leader in a Potrero Hill church’s youth congregation to groom and eventually sexually assault two teenage boys. He met the boys when they were 15 years old.
The boys regularly attended youth congregation services and other activities outside of church with Sotorizo. The boys stayed in his room periodically when they were 16 and 17 years old. The defendant would buy them food and clothes and play video games with them in his room. During their stays, Sotorizo insisted that one of them always sleep in the same bed with him. This occurred several times before they each turned 18 in 2016.
On June 22, 2017, the two victims were staying with Sotorizo, one of them returned to his room around 11 p.m., after hanging out with friends. He spoke briefly to the other victim and Sotorizo before going to sleep in the bed with the adult. Later in the evening, the victim woke up to Sotorizo orally copulating him and told him to stop. The victim reported the incident to police several days later. The victim and police contacted the other victim to tell him what transpired. At that time, the second victim disclosed that Sotorizo had done the same thing to him.
The case against Sotorizo was successfully prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Rick Hullinger, with assistance from District Attorney Investigators Shan Johnson and Lessa Dillon paralegal Andrew Ong, the subpoena unit and IT support from Noaeh Pinaire and Ada Yu. Special thanks to Victim Advocate Cindy Pelayo who worked closely with the victims throughout the pendency of this case. Prosecutors were able to develop a strong case thanks to the dedication of officers who investigated this case from the San Francisco Police Department’s Special Victims Unit and Bayview Station.
