Gracia gets life in prison

VISALIA — Robert Gracia, the man behind the kidnapping, physical and sexual assault of a Fresno woman in Porterville in October, received a 157-years-to-life prison sentence Friday morning.

Superior Court Judge Patrick OÂ’Hara handed down the sentence after denying GraciaÂ’s requests for a new attorney, a new trial, a 30-day sentencing delay and for leniency in the sentence.

Friday culminated what had become arguably one of the most bizarre criminal incidents in recent Tulare County history, a graphic, methamphetamine-laced saga of rape, torture and prostitution — all in a garage in the 1000 block of North Wisconsin Way.

Benito "Benny" Munoz, the other man charged in the case, in which four people initially were suspects, was sentenced to 64 months in prison Thursday.

"It was definitely a very bizarre case," prosecutor Onu Omordia said. "We believe in the end that the sentences were appropriate."

The ordeal began Oct. 8 when Gracia picked up the woman, a then-24-year-old Web page designer and computer builder, and two other women from a homeless shelter in Tulare, with the promise of a "party" with methamphetamine at a nearby hotel.

Instead, Gracia travelled 25 miles to MunozÂ’s garage, where he and one of the women allegedly hog-tied the victim with her shoelaces, then Gracia fondled her breasts.

For the next two days, Gracia forced the woman to orally copulate him on two occasions, physically assaulted her, and forced her to perform sex acts with another man for drugs and money.

Gracia, according to the woman, wanted her to hack into peopleÂ’s bank accounts and transfer the money into his account to satisfy a debt that one of the women owed.

Gracia also forced the woman to have sex with Munoz in MunozÂ’s home.

The ordeal came to a conclusion Oct. 10, shortly after the woman passed a note to a Save Mart employee alerting the employee of her distress. Police found the woman two hours later, and subsequently arrested Gracia and Munoz.

Police would later arrest Steven Mejia and Samantha Stuart, after allegations surfaced that she delivered the woman, who said she could create bogus checks, to Gracia to pay off the debt.

Charges were dropped against Stuart and Mejia after a December preliminary hearing.

A jury convicted Gracia, a two-strike offender, after a two-week trial June 6 on seven felony counts: kidnapping for rape, kidnapping for ransom, four counts of forced oral copulation and one count of rape.

OÂ’Hara on Friday reduced the last count of rape to assault with intent to rape.

Because of his prior strikes, each of his offenses resulted in a 25-years-to-life sentence, with the most serious of the charges receiving seven years in enhancements.

For sentencing purposes, OÂ’Hara did not impose the kidnapping-for-ransom charge, then levied a 32-years-to-life sentence for the kidnapping-for-rape charge, and 25-to-life sentences for each of the subsequent charges.

OÂ’Hara also ordered Gracia to pay a $10,000 fine and for any of the victimÂ’s medical or psychological bills.

Prior to sentencing, OÂ’Hara conducted a hearing at the request of Gracia, who wanted to fire his attorney, Stephen Girardot. OÂ’Hara denied the request, and then denied a subsequent request for a new trial, which Gracia requested because he was unsatisfied by GirardotÂ’s performance at trial. Finally, Girardot asked to delay the hearing for 30 days so that Gracia could see his family and get his affairs in order.

OÂ’Hara denied the request.

After the trio of requests, victim advocate Christine Barker read a statement prepared by the woman, which was also read at MunozÂ’s sentencing.

Then, in a final effort to ameliorate GraciaÂ’s sentence, Girardot asked OÂ’Hara to disregard GraciaÂ’s prior strike offenses as part of the sentencing, because the crimes occurred in 1994.

After reading off the list of Gracia’s numerous criminal offenses — several which have occurred since he was released from prison — O’Hara denied that request.

Girardot declined comment at the courthouse and was later unavailable for comment.

Omordia said she hopes the resolution will help the victim begin the healing process from an episode that, according to her statement, left her a "hollow shell" of herself.

"I can only hope this can provide some closure for her," Omordia said.

Contact Aaron Burgin at 784-5000, Ext. 1046, or aburgin@portervillerecorder.com.