People v. Torrez CA6

Filed 12/8/25 P. v. Torrez CA6 NOT TO BE PUBLISHED IN OFFICIAL REPORTS California Rules of Court, rule 8.1115(a), prohibits courts and parties from citing or relying on opinions not certified for publication or ordered published, except as specified by rule 8.1115(b). This opinion has not been certified for publication or ordered published for purposes of rule 8.1115.

IN THE COURT OF APPEAL OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA

SIXTH APPELLATE DISTRICT

THE PEOPLE, H052519 (Santa Clara County Plaintiff and Respondent, Super. Ct. No. C2014269)

v.

DENIS ALEXANDER TORREZ,

Defendant and Appellant.

In July 2024, after a bench trial, Denis Alexander Torrez was convicted on three counts of aggravated sexual assault, and the following month he was sentenced to a total of 45 years to life in prison. Torrez appealed, and we appointed counsel to represent him on appeal. Counsel filed a brief stating the case and the facts, but raising no issues. Instead, counsel asked us to review the record independently and determine whether there are any arguable issues. Torrez in turn filed a supplemental brief asserting three errors. We have reviewed the issues raised by Torrez and the full appellate record pursuant to People v. Wende (1979) 25 Cal.3d 436 (Wende). (See also People v. Kelly (2006) 40 Cal.4th 106 (Kelly).) As explained below, we conclude that there is no arguable issue for appeal that would result in a disposition more favorable to Torrez, and we therefore affirm the judgment.

I. BACKGROUND A. The Offenses When Jane Doe was 10 or 11 years old, Torrez rented a room from her grandparents, who lived next door. Roughly a year later, Doe’s father moved out, and Torrez, whom Doe believed was having an affair with her mother, moved in with Doe, her older sister, her older sister’s boyfriend, and her younger brother. Later, Torrez and Doe’s mother had two children together. When Doe was 11 years old, Torrez began molesting her while her mother was out of the house working a night shift. Eventually the molestation escalated to attempted oral copulation and vaginal penetration with his fingers and penis. When Doe was 13 years old, she told her mother that Torrez was abusing her, but Torrez denied the abuse, and Doe’s mother believed him. Afterwards the abuse mostly stopped, but when Doe was 14 years old, Doe’s mother whipped Doe with an electric cord, and Doe fled to her father’s house. When police responded to the father’s report of physical abuse, Doe told them about Torrez’s sexual abuse. Police arrested Torrez the next day. B. The Charges Torrez was eventually charged with 17 offenses, including lewd or lascivious acts upon a minor and various forms of aggravated sexual assault on a minor. Torrez and the prosecutor agreed to a bench trial on three charges: (1) aggravated sexual assault by penetration on a minor under 14 and seven or more years younger than the defendant, in violation of Penal Code section 269, subdivision (a)(5), (2) aggravated sexual assault by rape on a minor under 14 and seven or more years younger than the defendant, in violation of Penal Code section 269, subdivision (a)(1), and (3) aggravated sexual assault by oral copulation on a minor under 14 and seven or more years younger than the defendant, in violation of Penal Code section 269, subdivision (a)(4).