La Puente Man Sentenced to Life for Molesting 2 Female Family Members

POMONA, CA - A La Puente man convicted of sexually abusing two female family members was sentenced Thursday to 65 years to life in state prison.

Superior Court Judge Robert M. Martinez also ordered Mark Christopher Acosta, 46, to register as a sex offender for the rest of his life, according to the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office.

Acosta was found guilty March 12 of four counts of oral copulation or sexual penetration with a child 10 or younger, three counts of lewd act upon a child and one count each of continuous sexual abuse and child molesting.

The sexual abuse occurred at separate times between 2001 and 2009, according to Deputy District Attorney Babette Huley.

In 2007, one of the victims disclosed the abuse to an adult, who did not believe her, the prosecutor said.

The other victim came forward about the sexual abuse in 2013, prompting the first victim to notify authorities what had happened to her, according to the District Attorney's Office.

Acosta was arrested in February 2014 by Los Angeles County sheriff's deputies and has remained behind bars since then.

--City News Service, photo via Shutterstock