Cristóbal L., 50, operated as a fruit seller in Valdeavero, Madrid. He invited a 15-year-old to his home and engaged in sexual acts with her, despite complaints. The Madrid Provincial Court convicted him, sentencing him to 19 years in prison for multiple crimes: 12 years for sexual assault of a minor and 7 more years for corruption of minors. The sentence was reported by El Periódico de España of the Prensa Ibérica group, based on substantial evidence including a WhatsApp exchange with the victim dated October 4. In that exchange, he made statements that reflected coercive intent and control over the situation.
The case marks his first proven conviction while he faced more than a dozen pending cases for similar offenses against other adolescents, all boys from Valdeavero. He gained their trust through social settings, inviting them to his home pool where the alleged abuses occurred.
100 euros for sexual activity with minors
The judges determined that Cristóbal had contact with a 15-year-old during the summer of 2020 and used a social platform to communicate. Investigators established he had previously requested the minor’s DNI to verify age and identity.
By late July 2020, he created a WhatsApp group with the minor and another boy of the same age in which he offered money for sexual acts. Initial offers were 80 euros for both, later increased to 100 euros on the condition that the youths provide sexually explicit videos or make video calls. He used language indicating a desire for more explicit material as a means to determine the level of intimacy.
On August 14, 2020, one of the boys was subjected to sexual acts after being deceived with a false police officer pretext. He invited the minor to his home, suggested bathing in the pool, and exerted coercive pressure, stating he was a police officer and asserting control to prevent leaving until compliance.
Fake police
Following the initial steps of grooming, Cristóbal allegedly established influence by pretending to be a local police officer. He used that pretense to keep the minor at home and compel sexual activity, overcoming resistance with force when necessary.
The court’s record notes that the minor expressed a lack of willingness, but Cristóbal proceeded, pulling down clothing and initiating sexual contact despite resistance. This incident, along with other communications, prompted the family to report the events to authorities.
Beyond the August 14 assault, investigators highlighted WhatsApp chats with two other teenagers in which he requested pornographic material, aware that they were underage. He asked for explicit pictures and referred to the youths in ways that suggested he intended to view their bodies.
“There are children at home”
The judges found no credible defense from Cristóbal. He denied the facts but acknowledged certain aspects of his home and vehicle conditions that aligned with the minor’s account. He claimed the situation could have been framed by a stranger who noticed his property features.
Regarding secret conversations discovered on his phone, he suggested that past implications indicated that children might be present and that devices could have been accessed by a third party. The court did not find these explanations credible and emphasized the use of digital evidence in establishing the facts.
In addition to the August 14 assault, the court considered WhatsApp exchanges with two teenagers in which he sought pornographic material, knowing the youths were underage. He directly asked for explicit content and described his interest in viewing their bodies.
Pending cases
The case against Cristóbal, a native of Alcalá de Henares who ran a grocery business in Valdeavero for more than a decade, is not his only legal trouble. He had two underage children at the time of the incidents and allegedly befriended boys his own age who played football before inviting them to his home pool and committing abuses.
Another pending matter emerged last April, opening a new line of inquiry for sexual exploitation of minors, indecent exposure, and related corruption offenses involving a different 15-year-old boy. Cristóbal allegedly offered 100 euros for sex via WhatsApp and requested explicit photos, with investigators from the Instruction Court No. 6 of Alcalá de Henares handling the case. A further 5-year sentence is requested for this additional line of investigation.
El Periódico de España spoke with Juan Manuel Medina, lawyer for several complainants, who stated that the sentence aligns with expectations of a parallel case and underscores that the individual has a history of inappropriate conduct toward minors. The legal team aims for a longer cumulative sentence in related prosecutions.