A man accused of sexually abusing two underage girls pleaded guilty to multiple charges last week as the case was getting ready for trial in Santa Barbara.

Rogelio Arroyo Jr., 34, pled guilty to lewd or lascivious acts with a child under 14 years old, and will face 364 days in jail and two years of probation.

Arroyo was set to face trial in the coming weeks as jury selection was underway on Feb. 2.

But he entered the plea agreement Feb. 5, which meant a trial was no longer necessary, according to Senior Deputy District Attorney Megan Chanda. 

Arroyo was first charged in 2022 for crimes against two female children that occurred between 2018 and 2022. 

He was facing one count of aggravated sexual assault against a child, one count of a forcible lewd act upon a child by use of force, violence, menace, duress, or fear, one count of lewd or lascivious act upon a child, and two counts of exhibiting harmful matter, meaning distributing or offering to distribute pornography to a minor, according to court records. 

He also was facing several special allegations, including that the victims were particularly vulnerable, that he took advantage of a position of trust, and that the manner in which the crime was carried out indicated planning or sophistication, according to court records. 

Arroyo still faces sentencing, at which time he will be taken into custody, but the plea agreement has been accepted by Judge James R. Dabney.

Arroyo will have to register as a sex offender, and will be ordered to serve 364 days in county jail and two years of probation, Chanda said. 

The Santa Barbara District Attorney’s Office also will be issuing criminal protective orders to keep Arroyo from having any contact with the victims in this case.

He will also face other terms and conditions decided by the Santa Barbara Probation Office, including taking sex offender courses. 

Arroyo’s next court appearance is March 3 in Department 11 in the Figueroa courthouse.