A Newman man was sentenced to 21 years in state prison after pleading guilty to continuous sexual abuse of a child, the Stanislaus County District Attorney’s Office announced.

Marcio Elvir Hernandez, 31, admitted to sexually abusing an 11-year-old child over an extended period and further acknowledged that the abuse resulted in a pregnancy, prosecutors said.

The case began in February 2023, when the Newman Police Department received a report of a possible sexual assault involving a minor. During the investigation, detectives uncovered evidence that Hernandez had maintained a sexual relationship with the child. He later confessed to the abuse in an interview with law enforcement.

Detectives also seized electronic devices from Hernandez that revealed ongoing sexual communication with the victim, according to the District Attorney’s Office.

On Aug. 11, 2025, Stanislaus County Superior Court Judge Kellee Westbrook handed down the 21-year sentence. Hernandez will be required to register as a sex offender for life under Megan’s Law and will be placed on parole for 20 years following his incarceration.

Deputy District Attorney Sara D. Sousa prosecuted the case. The Newman Police Department led the investigation and apprehended Hernandez.