A 34-year-old man who pled guilty to lewd or lascivious acts with a child under 14 years old has been sentenced to six years in state prison.

Rogelio Arroyo Jr. entered the guilty plea in February as the case was getting ready for trial in Santa Barbara Superior Court.

He had initially faced one year in jail and two years of probation at the County Jail, under a plea agreement.

After he entered his guilty plea, he was allowed to remain out of police custody before the sentencing under what is known as a Cruz waiver, according to Amber Frost, a spokesperson for the Santa Barbara County District Attorney’s Office.

Judge James Dabney found that before the sentencing, Arroyo Jr. violated a domestic violence restraining order “by emailing one of the victims’ mother multiple times, taunting her about the resolution of the case,” Frost said.

“Judge Dabney ultimately determined that probation and one year of custody was not appropriate given the circumstances and sentenced him to six years in state prison,” she said.

Arroyo Jr. was initially charged in December 2022 in connection with the sexual abuse of two young girls.

He had faced 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, Noozhawk previously reported.

He also faced special allegations that the victims were particularly vulnerable, that he took advantage of a position of trust, and that the crime was carried out in a manner indicating planning or sophistication.

With his conviction, he was required to register as a sex offender, and has been incarcerated at North Kern State Prison since May 21, according to state custody logs.

He will not be eligible for parole until February 2030.