Topline: Eugene Anthony Souza was sentenced to 36 years in state prison after a judge found him guilty in a Kings County bench trial of continuously sexually abusing a child under 14 and committing lewd acts on a child under 14.
Published: April 15, 2026 9:30 am ET
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SACRAMENTO, CA — Eugene Anthony Souza has been sentenced to 36 years in state prison after a judge found him guilty in a Kings County bench trial of continuously sexually abusing a child under 14 and committing lewd acts on a child under 14.
According to the California Department of Justice, Souza received the maximum possible sentence after the court convicted him on all charges in the case.
California Attorney General Rob Bonta said the victim was a young family member and that the abuse happened on an almost weekly basis beginning when she was 8 years old and continuing until she was 11.
The case was initially investigated by the Kings County Sheriff’s Office before it was referred to the California Department of Justice after the Kings County District Attorney’s Office was recused, the attorney general’s office said.
State prosecutors said DOJ then conducted additional investigation and handled the prosecution through its Criminal Law Division’s Appeals, Writs and Trials Section, which can take over criminal cases when a local district attorney is recused, faces a conflict of interest, or requests assistance.
Bonta called the sentence a reflection of the severity of the crime and praised the survivor and her family for pursuing justice. The attorney general’s office did not announce any further hearings following sentencing.
Souza has now been convicted and sentenced, and the case has moved past the charging stage.
Presumption of Innocence: A presumption of innocence means that any defendant in a criminal trial is presumed to be innocent until they have been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The defendant in this case is only accused of the charges set forth in the criminal complaint. They are innocent until proven guilty.
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California Man Sentenced to 36 Years in Child Sexual Abuse Case after Kings County Bench Trial
Eugene Anthony Souza was sentenced to 36 years in state prison after a judge found him guilty in a Kings County bench trial of continuously sexually abusing a child under 14 and committing lewd acts on a child under 14.
By Staff Reports
Published: April 15, 2026 9:30 am ET
SACRAMENTO, CA — Eugene Anthony Souza has been sentenced to 36 years in state prison after a judge found him guilty in a Kings County bench trial of continuously sexually abusing a child under 14 and committing lewd acts on a child under 14.
According to the California Department of Justice, Souza received the maximum possible sentence after the court convicted him on all charges in the case.
California Attorney General Rob Bonta said the victim was a young family member and that the abuse happened on an almost weekly basis beginning when she was 8 years old and continuing until she was 11.
The case was initially investigated by the Kings County Sheriff’s Office before it was referred to the California Department of Justice after the Kings County District Attorney’s Office was recused, the attorney general’s office said.
State prosecutors said DOJ then conducted additional investigation and handled the prosecution through its Criminal Law Division’s Appeals, Writs and Trials Section, which can take over criminal cases when a local district attorney is recused, faces a conflict of interest, or requests assistance.
Bonta called the sentence a reflection of the severity of the crime and praised the survivor and her family for pursuing justice. The attorney general’s office did not announce any further hearings following sentencing.
Souza has now been convicted and sentenced, and the case has moved past the charging stage.
Presumption of Innocence: A presumption of innocence means that any defendant in a criminal trial is presumed to be innocent until they have been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The defendant in this case is only accused of the charges set forth in the criminal complaint. They are innocent until proven guilty.
Editor's Note: ThePo makes every effort to accurately transcribe the contents of affidavits of probable cause contained in criminal complaints. Often, the complaints themselves are copies of copies of faxed copies, and are difficult to read. To confirm the accuracy of our transcription, contact the Magisterial District Court listed above and request a copy of the criminal complaint. It's a public record to which you are entitled.
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California Man Sentenced to 36 Years in Child Sexual Abuse Case after Kings County Bench Trial
Eugene Anthony Souza was sentenced to 36 years in state prison after a judge found him guilty in a Kings County bench trial of continuously sexually abusing a child under 14 and committing lewd acts on a child under 14.
By Staff Reports
Published: April 15, 2026 9:30 am ET
SACRAMENTO, CA — Eugene Anthony Souza has been sentenced to 36 years in state prison after a judge found him guilty in a Kings County bench trial of continuously sexually abusing a child under 14 and committing lewd acts on a child under 14.
According to the California Department of Justice, Souza received the maximum possible sentence after the court convicted him on all charges in the case.
California Attorney General Rob Bonta said the victim was a young family member and that the abuse happened on an almost weekly basis beginning when she was 8 years old and continuing until she was 11.
The case was initially investigated by the Kings County Sheriff’s Office before it was referred to the California Department of Justice after the Kings County District Attorney’s Office was recused, the attorney general’s office said.
State prosecutors said DOJ then conducted additional investigation and handled the prosecution through its Criminal Law Division’s Appeals, Writs and Trials Section, which can take over criminal cases when a local district attorney is recused, faces a conflict of interest, or requests assistance.
Bonta called the sentence a reflection of the severity of the crime and praised the survivor and her family for pursuing justice. The attorney general’s office did not announce any further hearings following sentencing.
Souza has now been convicted and sentenced, and the case has moved past the charging stage.
Presumption of Innocence: A presumption of innocence means that any defendant in a criminal trial is presumed to be innocent until they have been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The defendant in this case is only accused of the charges set forth in the criminal complaint. They are innocent until proven guilty.
Editor's Note: ThePo makes every effort to accurately transcribe the contents of affidavits of probable cause contained in criminal complaints. Often, the complaints themselves are copies of copies of faxed copies, and are difficult to read. To confirm the accuracy of our transcription, contact the Magisterial District Court listed above and request a copy of the criminal complaint. It's a public record to which you are entitled.
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