San Francisco, CA – San Francisco District Attorney Brooke Jenkins announced today that her office secured a conviction of Marvin Sotorizo (45), after a trial by jury, for orally copulating two unconscious people in his home in 2017. Mr. Sotorizo was convicted of two counts of oral copulation on an unconscious person (PC 287(f)).
“I would like to thank the jury for their service in this trial,” said District Attorney Brooke Jenkins. “The jury’s verdict delivers justice to the victims who have been waiting for nearly 10 years. I would also like to thank the victims for their courage in coming forward and their trust in my office after all of these years. This case serves as one example of how long the fight for justice can take in some cases, and my office’s commitment to staying the course and standing with victims for as long as it takes.”
According to testimony and evidence presented at trial, Mr. 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. Mr. Sotorizo met the boys when they were 15 years old. The boys regularly attended youth congregation services and other activities outside of church with Mr. Sotorizo. The boys stayed in Mr. Sotorizo’s room periodically when they were 16 and 17 years old. Mr. Sotorizo would buy them food and clothes and play video games with them in his room. During their stays, Mr. 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 Mr. Sotorizo. One of them returned to Mr. Sotorizo’s room around 11 p.m., after hanging out with friends. He spoke briefly to the other victim and Mr. Sotorizo before going to sleep in the bed with Mr. Sotorizo. Later in the evening the victim woke up to Mr. Sotorizo orally copulating him and told Mr. Sotorizo to stop. The victim reported the incident to police several days later. The victim and police contacted the other victim to tell him what had happened. At that time, the second victim disclosed that Mr. Sotorizo had done the same thing to him.
The case against Mr. 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.
“Mr. Sotorizo preyed upon the victims’ vulnerabilities as teenagers,” said Assistant District Attorney Rick Hullinger. “However, the victims showed remarkable fortitude by carrying the burden of what happened to them for nearly a decade before facing their abuser to obtain justice.”
Mr. Sotorizo is currently out of custody pending sentencing. Sentencing is scheduled for September 24, 2026.
Court Number: 17009447
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