A Santa Barbara jury on Monday found Robert Charles Hawley, 84, guilty of nine counts of child molestation and sexual assault committed on three family members.
The jury also found true the special allegation that Mr. Hawley committed sex crimes against multiple victims, Santa Barbara County District Attorney Joyce Dudley announced Tuesday.
The prosecution of Mr. Hawley was the result of the actions of a Good Samaritan calling 911 when she observed Mr. Hawley engaging in inappropriate touching of a young girl in a local supermarket.
The 911 caller saw something off and decided she should say something, and in doing so provided authorities with a description of the subjects as well as a license plate of an associated vehicle, Ms. Dudley said in a news release.
Santa Barbara Police Detective Megan Harrison uncovered multiple additional women who had sexually victimized by Mr. Hawley. Three of the women testified at his trial.
“The victims and their families showed great courage in testifying and confronting their abuser, therefore holding him accountable for these horrendous acts of molestation and sexual abuse,” Ms. Dudley said in a statement.
Mr. Hawley is scheduled to be sentenced by Superior Court Judge Brian Hill on May 29.
He is facing 138 years to life in prison.
