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Turlock man sentenced to prison for sexually assaulting former girlfriend
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A Turlock man was sentenced to 25 years to life in prison for a sexual assault he committed on his former girlfriend.

Aaron Anthony Vrh, 49, was found guilty of sexual penetration with a foreign object by force on Oct. 28 after a two-week jury trial. He was sentenced on Dec. 7 in Stanislaus County Superior Court.

In addition to the guilty verdict, the jury found true two enhancements that Vrh inflicted serious bodily injury and great bodily injury during a domestic violence act.

The charges stem from an incident on July 4, 2013 with Vrh’s ex-girlfriend, identified in court documents as Jane Doe.

The victim told the jury that she and Vrh had been drinking at a neighbor’s party and had gotten into an argument. She said Vrh got angry and chased her into the bedroom of his home and sexually assaulted her by force.

The victim said after the assault, Vrh cleaned her up and took her to Emanuel Medical Center, where he told her to tell the medical personnel that she was drunk and had accidentally sat on a plunger, which caused her injury.

A nurse at the hospital found the story unbelievable and contacted the Turlock Police Department. Turlock Police Officer Kim Briggs responded and, although the victim maintained the false version of events, Briggs did not believe the injuries were caused by a plunger and took photos of the external injury and bruising, which were admitted later at the trial more than two years later.

The victim maintained the false version of events and returned to the defendant’s home after the assault, according to the Stanislaus County District Attorney’s Office. Several months later, after she left the defendant, the victim described what had really happened to a Merced County deputy sheriff, who had responded to her new residence after the defendant had again located her and physically assaulted her, according to the district attorney’s office.

“Jane Doe is left with permanent injuries caused by the defendant’s violent act, and her life is forever changed,” said Deputy District Attorney Annette Rees, who prosecuted the case. “Defendant Vrh now has a life sentence to reflect on his long history of violence upon women.”

Two former girlfriends of the defendant each testified at the trial. Laura Valencia and Danica Esparza had prior romantic relationships with Vrh. Each of the women testified about Vrh’s violence upon them when they tried to leave the relationship.

Vrh’s conviction is considered a strike under the Three Strikes Law and also requires him to register as a sex offender for life should he ever be granted parole.