Relative Charged with Having Sex with 8-Year-Old Sonoma Girl

Bay City News Service

A Sonoma Valley man was charged in Sonoma County Superior Court this afternoon with continuous sexual assault of an 8-year-old Sonoma girl.

Kenneth Donald Hutchins, 64, of Boyes Hot Springs, delayed entering a plea on seven felony charges until Tuesday. He is being held in the Sonoma County jail under $2.2 million bail.

Deputy District Attorney Barbara Nanney said Hutchins is the uncle of the victim's mother.

Sonoma County sheriff's Lt. Dennis O'Leary said Hutchins was helping the family with childcare, and the sexual assaults occurred at Hutchins' and the victim's home over the past year.

The victim's sister witnessed one of the sexual acts and notified her mother, who then called Sonoma police, O'Leary said.

The charges include sex and oral copulation with a child age 10 or younger, rape, and committing lewd and lascivious acts by force.

Nanney said Hutchins faces 15 years to life in prison on one of the counts alleging sex with a girl 10 or younger.

Hutchins, a 20-year Sonoma Valley resident, was arrested Tuesday night and was booked into the county jail under no bail. Judge Jamie Thistlethwaite set bail at $2.2 million this afternoon.

Hutchins faces 25 years to life in prison, O'Leary said.