North County Man Sentenced to 116 Years to Life for Child Molestation
Defendant Videotaped Sexual Abuse of Young Girl

This press release was issued by the Office of the District Attorney, County of San Diego Media.

San Diego County District Attorney Bonnie Dumanis announced today that Daniel Hood, 43, was sentenced today to 116 years to life in state prison for molesting his girlfriend’s daughter over a five-year period beginning when the victim was 4 years old. Superior Court Judge Blaine Bowman handed down the sentence after the defendant was convicted of 18 felony counts of child sexual abuse. Deputy District Attorney Keith Watanabe prosecuted the case. At today’s sentencing, the victim’s parents gave tearful testimony about the impact these crimes had on their daughter.

“This defendant robbed his young victim of her childhood,” said District Attorney Bonnie M. Dumanis. “Today’s life sentence will hopefully bring a measure of comfort and closure to the victim and her family.”

Hood lived with his girlfriend and her daughter in their Oceanside home. He had access to the child while her biological father, a U.S. Marine, was away on two tours of duty in Iraq and one tour of duty in Afghanistan. The defendant molested the victim for years and even began to videotape the molestations.

Hood was finally caught when he left his cell phone at a relative’s home in Temecula. The relative found the disturbing photos and videos of homemade child pornography and reported it to the FBI. This case was investigated by the FBI and the Oceanside Police Department and then submitted to the District Attorney’s Office for prosecution.

Office of the District Attorney, County of San Diego Media Contacts:

• Steve Walker, (619) 531-3890
• Tanya Sierra, (619) 531-3315