Tuolumne County District Attorney Cassandra Jenecke announced that on March 13, 2025, Francisco Hernandez, a resident of Sonora, was sentenced to 11 years and 4 months in State Prison. This came after Mr. Hernandez pled guilty on January 30, 2025, to Inflicting Corporal Injury on a Cohabitant/Girlfriend and Dissuading a Witness from Prosecuting a Crime while out of custody on bail. Mr. Hernandez also admitted that he had suffered a prior strike conviction for which he was on Post Release Community Supervision after serving a prison sentence for First Degree Residential Burglary at the time of the offenses.
Mr. Hernandez was first arrested on December 11, 2024, after the victim, whom the defendant had been in a dating relationship with and had been residing with, arrived at her work with obvious injuries to her face. Mr. Hernandez showed up to the victim’s work shortly thereafter and demanded to speak with the victim. The victim followed Mr. Hernandez outside where he was observed striking her in the face. The victim’s co workers called 911 to report the incident. At almost the same time, the victim’s children reported to their teacher that Mr. Hernandez had hurt their mom the night prior. A social worker from Child Welfare Services who is specially trained to speak to children interviewed the victim’s children who reported the abuse the victim had suffered at the hands of the defendant.
Mr. Hernandez bailed out of custody on December 15, 2024. The victim was granted an Emergency Protective Order by the Court and that order was served on the defendant on December 17, 2024. After the defendant was served with the order, the victim missed work and had not been in contact with her family. Concerned coworkers advised Sonora Police Department about the victim’s absence and SPD immediately began searching for the victim, who they were able to locate on December 18, 2024. The defendant was in the same vehicle with the victim, in violation of the Protective Order and arrested. That same date, the District Attorney’s Office sought to ensure the defendant was not calling the victim from custody and realized the defendant was actively on the phone with the victim. SPD was advised and they immediately went to the jail to investigate. On December 18, 2024, the defendant made 9 calls to the victim, which included instructing the victim to relay a message to her daughter that his arrest was because of what the daughter had said at school and to tell her not to "lie."
At his arraignment, the People requested “no bail” which was granted by the Court on December 20, 2024. A person arrested and taken to the county jail is statutorily entitled to bail, unless the court makes a finding that there is no less restrictive alternative to ensure public safety and the People have met their burden to show by clear and convincing evidence that there is substantial likelihood that defendant’s release would result in great bodily injury to others. A preliminary hearing was held in both matters on January 7, 2025 and the defendant was held to answer as charged. The defendant pled guilty before a trial was set. The defendant will remain in the custody at Tuolumne County Dambacher Detention Center until he is transported to State Prison.
Those who are experiencing domestic violence are often uncooperative with law enforcement; however, it is important for our community to remain vigilant, patient, and ready to help whenever someone who is experiencing domestic violence needs support. Support for those who are experiencing domestic violence can be found by reaching out to the Center for Non-Violent Community at 209-588-9305 and calling 911 in cases of emergency.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Stephanie Novelli.
