Judge sentences Ramona man, 56, to 10 years for daycare molestation

By Neal Putnam

A Ramona man received 10 years in state prison March 7 for molesting a 6-year-old girl who was in his wife’s home daycare program in 2007.

Thomas Duane Ochenduszko, 56, said nothing before El Cajon Superior Court Judge Charles Ervin sentenced him after hearing from the girl’s mother and grandfather.

“A 50-year-old man and a 6-year-old kid — that’s messed up,” said the grandfather to the judge. “A grown man should know better.”

“I cannot wait for this to be over,” said the girl’s mother as she denounced Ochenduszko as someone who “helped himself to my child.”

“He has earned every day of a 10-year sentence,” said Deputy District Attorney Danielle Hickman. “What he did was wrong, was calculated, and completely reprehensible.”

Hickman said Ochenduszko was “a friend of the (victim’s) family.” She said the molestation involved “very horrendous acts.”

The grandfather said the girl didn’t understand what happened to her until she was older. She underwent therapy, and the grandfather praised her for bringing out the truth.

He said the girl did not want to hurt Ochenduszko’s wife as she wasn’t home at the time. She was interviewed in April 2012 by a sheriff’s deputy and said Ochenduszko performed oral sex acts with her after he showed her a pornographic movie and several other times without the movie.

Ochenduszko admitted to a deputy he showed a pornographic movie to the girl while his wife was at a doctor’s appointment. He denied molesting the girl, but on Jan. 31 he pleaded guilty to committing a lewd act on a minor and to showing harmful matter to a child with the intent of seduction.

He had been free on $250,000 bond since Sept. 1, 2012, after spending several days in jail. He was remanded into custody immediately and Ervin ordered him to register as a sex offender.

“He took advantage of a position of trust,” said Ervin.

Ervin ordered him to pay $4,159 to the victim’s family for therapy, child care, lost wages, and other expenses. He fined Ochenduszko $5,394 and ordered him to pay $420 to the sheriff’s department for investigation costs.

A bailiff gave tissues to the victim’s mother and the defendant’s wife, who were both crying.

Ochenduszko’s attorney, William Wolfe, asked Ervin to impose an 8-year term, noting Ochenduszko had no prior record.

He said Ochenduszko had “taken responsibility” by pleading guilty. Probation was ruled out when he pleaded guilty to two charges. Ervin dismissed three other molestation counts.