SAN DIEGO–An Oceanside man was sentenced today to 116 years-to-life in state prison for molesting his girlfriend’s daughter over a five-year period beginning when the victim was four-years old.
Superior Court Judge Blaine Bowman handed down the sentence after Daniel Hood, 43, was convicted of 18 felony counts of child sexual abuse. Deputy District Attorney Keith Watanabe prosecuted the case. At today’s sentencing the victim’s parents gave tearful testimony about the impact these crimes had on their daughter.
“This defendant robbed his young victim of her childhood,” said District Attorney Bonnie Dumanis. “Today’s life sentence will hopefully bring a measure of comfort and closure to the victim and her family.”
Hood lived with his girlfriend and her daughter in their Oceanside home. He had access to the child while her biological father, a Marine, was away on two tours of duty in Iraq and one tour of duty in Afghanistan. The defendant molested the victim for years and even began to videotape the molestations.
Hood was finally caught when he left his cell phone at a relative’s home in Temecula. The relative found the disturbing photos and videos of home-made child pornography and reported it to the FBI. The case was investigated by the FBI and the Oceanside Police Department, then submitted to the District Attorney’s Office for prosecution.
