Jury found Todd Hortillosa guilty on 10 counts of sex crimes

PISMO BEACH — San Luis Obispo County District Attorney Dan Dow announced on Tuesday, June 28, that a jury found Todd Anthony Hortillosa (44) of Pismo Beach guilty on 10 counts of sex crimes against three children occurring over a nine-year period.

A San Luis Obispo County jury found Pismo Beach resident Todd Anthony Hortillosa (DOB 12/13/1977) guilty on 10 counts of committing a lewd act on a child under the age of 14 years involving three separate victims. The jury also found true that Hortillosa’s crimes involved multiple victims under the age of 14, a finding that provides for a potential life sentence. 

At the jury trial, each of the three survivors, now aged 23, 14, and 11, testified to the prolonged sexual abuse inflicted by Hortillosa. The sexual abuse escalated with each victim, but ultimately stopped after it was reported to a teacher by a then 11-year-old victim. 

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“We applaud the courage of these young victims to report and testify about what the defendant did to them and we thank the jury for providing justice for these three young survivors,” said District Attorney Dan Dow. “Sexual abuse of children is a horrific betrayal of trust that causes great harm to its victims. We will always do everything within our power to hold child predators accountable to the maximum extent possible.” 

A sentencing hearing is scheduled for August 15, at 8:30 a.m. in Department 5 of the San Luis Obispo County Superior Court, the Honorable Judge Craig van Rooyen presiding. Hortillosa faces a potential sentence of 120 years to life, plus two years eight months, in prison for his crimes. 

The case was investigated by the San Luis Obispo County Sheriff’s Office with the aid of the District Attorney’s Office Bureau of Investigation. Sheriff’s Detective James Wyett and District Attorney’s Office Investigator Rosalba Denny were the primary investigators. The case was prosecuted by Deputy District Attorney Danielle Baker who is assigned to the Sexual Assault and Child Abuse Prosecution Unit.