Modesto man serving life sentence from early 1980s crimes denied parole again
A Modesto man serving a life sentence for a series of violent sexual crimes — including the kidnapping of an 8-year-old girl — was denied parole following a recent hearing, according to the Stanislaus County District Attorney’s Office.
William Florez, 63, was denied release after a parole hearing held at Valley State Prison in Chowchilla, District Attorney Jeff Laugero said in a statement.
Deputy District Attorney Cindy DeSilva appeared on behalf of the prosecution and argued that Florez continues to pose an unreasonable risk to public safety based on the severity of his crimes and his conduct while incarcerated. The parole board agreed and denied Florez parole for at least five more years.
Florez has been serving a life sentence with the possibility of parole since 1982 following multiple violent sexual offenses committed in the early 1980s.
According to court records and prior statements from the District Attorney’s Office, Florez was convicted of kidnapping for ransom and forcible rape stemming from a July 1981 abduction in Modesto. Prosecutors said Florez broke into a home in the early morning hours and kidnapped an 8-year-old girl while her parents slept in another room. The child was bound and gagged and transported to Sonora, where Florez later contacted the family and demanded ransom money.
Florez was arrested the following day by Modesto police while arranging the exchange, and the child was safely returned to her family.
Following publicity surrounding the case, additional women came forward and reported being sexually assaulted by Florez. He was later convicted in connection with one of those assaults in addition to the kidnapping charge, according to earlier District Attorney’s Office statements.
Records show Florez has appeared before the parole board numerous times over the decades and has repeatedly been denied release. At a 2016 parole hearing, commissioners denied Florez parole for 10 years, citing the seriousness of his crimes and concerns about his behavior in prison. During that period, prison officials reported finding a weapon — described as a sock filled with metal — inside Florez’s cell, according to prior reporting.
The District Attorney’s Office said the parole board again found Florez unsuitable for release at his most recent hearing, citing the violent nature of his crimes and ongoing public safety concerns.
