Hayward handyman charged with violently molesting 8-year-old lady as she screamed for assist
HAYWARD — A 49-year-old man from Hayward has been accused of sexually abusing a girl on multiple occasions, beginning when she was eight, after her family hired him as a handyman, court documents show.
Ruperto Espinoza Villanueva was charged on May 17 with two counts of aggravated sexual abuse of a child and gifts of violence and trust. He was also charged with first-degree home burglary, a related offense stemming from one of the alleged incidents in which he came to the family home for dinner.
The girl, now in her teens, kept the harassment to herself until recently. She was afraid to come forward because Villanueva was in a position of trust and because of her trauma, authorities say.
Villanueva was arrested on May 16 and pleaded not guilty on May 18. He is being held without bail in Santa Rita prison in Dublin.
Prosecutors allege that the first act of molestation took place when the girl was eight, when Villanueva allegedly grabbed her in the backyard, took her to a secluded area on the property, and inappropriately touched her. The girl reportedly told police that he covered her mouth when she tried to scream for help and threatened to hurt her if she told him.
Three years later, Villanueva allegedly molested the girl again in a similar manner after she was invited to the family home for dinner. Authorities say he grabbed her as she was playing in the backyard, took her to the side of the house, touched her inappropriately and then told her to “shut up” when she started crying. The girl reportedly claimed there was a third incident of molestation when she was nine, but so far prosecutors have only filed the two counts.
After the alleged victim came forward, her mother told police that there had been another suspicious incident involving Villanueva: he allegedly came into the house one night and cut open the window screen to the girl’s bedroom while he was holding a flashlight shined in. Police say he left when his mother yelled at him.
Because the charges were filed, an Alameda County Superior Court judge issued an injunction that will remain in effect even if Villanueva is convicted, court filings show. Villanueva’s next court date, a pre-trial hearing, is scheduled for June 29 before Judge Jacob Blea.
