Adoptive parents get life in prison in Santa Rosa molest case

A Santa Rosa couple were sentenced Tuesday to lengthy terms for sexually abusing a 13-year-old orphan girl from Mexico who twice became pregnant.

Eloy Perez, 57, and Flor Angelica Garcia-Morteo, 51, molested the girl after adopting her in Tijuana in the mid-1990s. The abuse continued when they moved north to Sonoma County, pulling her from Cook Middle School when she was pregnant.

Jurors in April found the couple guilty of multiple crimes including forcible rape and committing lewd acts on a child under 14.

Perez, a night club owner, also was convicted of causing great bodily injury for fathering two children with the girl.

Garcia-Morteo, a food truck operator, was found guilty of aiding and abetting for pulling the girl from school and lying about her age to doctors.

Judge Gary Medvigy sentenced Perez to four 15-to-life terms totaling 60 years. Garcia-Morteo got three 15-year terms plus three additional years for 48 years in prison.

The victim, now in her 20s, spoke at the sentencing, referring to the two as the “monster under my bed.”

Garcia-Morteo’s lawyer, Geoffrey Dunham, said his client had a minimal role.

He said she was forced to participate by family and cultural factors beyond her control.

“She had no idea what to do, so she didn’t do anything,” Dunham said.

You can reach Staff ?Writer Paul Payne at ?568-5312 or paul.payne@?pressdemocrat.com.?On Twitter @ppayne.