Oxnard man sentenced to 480 years for molesting young relatives

Marcelino Arias Arca, a 68-year-old man from Oxnard, was sentenced to 480 years to life in prison for molesting two young family members over nearly a decade, from 2005 to 2014. A jury convicted him on March 5 of six felony counts of lewd acts upon a child, with the prosecution highlighting his prior conviction for similar offenses dating back to 1988. The victims, both under 14 at the time of the abuse, reported their experiences years later to a trusted family member, leading to Arca's arrest in 2022. Senior Deputy District Attorney Ben Moreno emphasized the lasting harm caused by Arca's actions and noted that this sentence serves as a strong message against child sexual abuse, particularly by repeat offenders. The case underscores the importance of victim courage in seeking justice and the legal system's commitment to accountability. Arca will now spend the rest of his life in prison, ensuring he cannot harm children again.