Man Gets Maximum Jail Term for Hitting Pregnant Girlfriend

Convicted domestic abuser Daniel Acosta, of Long Beach, California, has been sentenced to 45 months of county jail after a jury found him guilty of misdemeanor domestic battery against his pregnant girlfriend.  It was Acosta’s third domestic battery conviction in four years.

City Prosecutor Haubert praised the conviction stating, “This defendant is a dangerous, serial abuser.  When a person repeatedly causes violence to those around him, especially a pregnant wife or girlfriend, there is every reason to believe the violence will continue and escalate unless something is done.”

On Friday, June 26, 2015, Long Beach Superior Court Judge Daniel Lowenthal sentenced Acosta, age 25, to the maximum term of three years in county jail after the jury trial.  Since Acosta was on probation for a prior conviction of domestic abuse, Judge Lowenthal ordered an additional 270 days in jail, the maximum remaining time for the probation violation, for a total of forty-five months in jail.

On June 25, a jury found Acosta guilty of three misdemeanor counts of domestic violence resulting in a traumatic condition, in violation of Penal Code section 273.5(a), for three separate acts of violence against his girlfriend.  Each count carried a maximum of one year in county jail.  Judge Lowenthal issued a protective order for 10 years, the maximum time permitted by law, prohibiting Acosta from contacting or coming within 100 yards of the victim.

During the trial, the jury heard evidence that Acosta beat the victim, who is also the mother of his child and his former girlfriend, in multiple, separate incidents.  On a majority of those occasions, the victim was pregnant with Acosta’s child.

Prior to this case, Acosta was convicted of domestic battery against a different woman he was dating.  The victim in the prior case also has two children with Acosta.

Long Beach Deputy City Prosecutor Pooja Kumar handled the jury trial and the sentencing. “We’re pleased that the jury held Defendant accountable for his actions,” Ms. Kumar said. “Given the seriousness of the conduct and Defendant’s criminal history, Judge Lowenthal imposed the appropriate sentence.”