Former San Jose councilmember Omar Torres pleads no contest to child sex abuse charges

SAN JOSE, Calif. -- On the same day voters in his former San Jose City Council district are deciding his replacement, ex-councilmember Omar Torres was convicted of sexually molesting a minor in 1999.

On Tuesday, Torres, 43, pleaded no contest to charges of sodomy and oral copulation by force, violence, duress, menace or fear, and lewd and lascivious acts on a minor under the age of 14, according to the Santa Clara County District Attorney's Office.

MORE: San Jose Councilmember Omar Torres charged with sexual assault of minor

Torres was a teenager when he allegedly molested the victim numerous times starting when the victim was 4 years old, between 1990 and 1999, prosecutors said. The criminal charges against Torres involve alleged acts from Nov. 25, 1999, about a month after Torres turned 18 years old.

A city councilmember for downtown San Jose from 2023 to late 2024, Torres will be sentenced at a later date and faces prison time and lifetime registration as a sex offender.

"It is heartbreaking that someone elected to represent and serve thousands of San Jose residents had previously molested a small child," District Attorney Jeff Rosen said. "Children are vulnerable and precious, and my Office will do everything in our legal power to fight for their safety and fully prosecute those who hurt them."

The victim contacted police in 2024 after reports came out about a separate investigation into alleged sexual abuse of minors by Torres, authorities said.

Torres previously worked as a school trustee. He resigned from the city council in November, just hours before his arrest.

Voters in his former City Council District 3 are heading to the polls on Tuesday for a special election to fill the vacant seat.

The six candidates running to represent the downtown district are: Adam Duran, Philip Dolan, Irene Smith, Gabby Chavez-Lopez, Anthony Tordillos, Tyrone Wade and Matthew Quevedo.