Northshore man convicted of sexual assault
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — A jury has convicted a Northshore man of several counts of sexual assault.
On April 8, the jury handed down the verdict in the trial of Antonio Thomas Magalhaes, 36, of Nice, after approximately one hour of deliberation, said Chief Deputy District Attorney Richard Hinchcliff.
Magalhaes was convicted of seven separate crimes, including assault with intent to commit sodomy while committing a first degree burglary; sodomy by force; forcible rape; first degree burglary; rape of an intoxicated person; rape of an unconscious person; and domestic violence involving corporal injury.
Magalhaes remains in custody of the Lake County Sheriff’s Office pending sentencing, which is scheduled for June 6.
Magalhaes could face up to a maximum period of 38 years to life in prison, Hinchcliff said.
Hinchcliff said the trial began on March 30 in Judge Andrew Blum’s Department 3 courtroom. Deputy District Attorney Richard Watson prosecuted the case, with Magalhaes represented by Matthew Fregi of Contra Costa County.
Watson said the testimony at trial established that Magalhaes beat and sexually assaulted one victim on multiple occasions from Sept. 1, 2018, through March 19, 2019.
Magalhaes would break into the victim’s home, hold her down, force himself on her and rape her. On one occasion Magalhaes broke into the home while the victim was sleeping, attacked her in her bed and forcefully sodomized her, the District Attorney’s Office reported.
Testimony further established that on Dec. 8 and 9, 2019, Magalhaes raped a second victim while she was too intoxicated to resist or consent and that he raped her while she was unconscious.
The Lake County District Attorney’s Office commended the victims for their courage in coming forward and testifying as to the various abuses committed against them by Magalhaes.
The case was investigated by Ryan Murdaugh of the Mendocino County Sheriff’s Department, Jose Zepeda, Marcos DeLatorre and Cody White of the Lake County Sheriff’s Department, and Denise Hinchcliff and Scott Poma of the Lake County District Attorney’s Office.
The matter was referred to the Lake County Probation Office for a presentence report and recommendation.