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Clovis man convicted of multiple assaults

Roy Cavazos, 30, faces up to 73 years.

CLOVIS — A man convicted this week of multiple felony sex crimes last summer faces up to 73 years in prison, following two days of trial and over three hours of jury deliberation.

Roy Cavazos, 30, was convicted Thursday night of holding a woman hostage in her Clovis apartment for 18 hours starting the night of July 26, 2016. During that time he gave her methamphetamines and sexually assaulted her multiple times while her infant child was in the home, according to a news release from District Attorney Andrea Reeb.

The victim, a 29-year old woman, "spent the whole first afternoon (of trial) on the witness stand," said Reeb. "She endured a very extensive and direct cross-examination ... Every question that could have been asked of her was asked."

The jury, composed of seven men and five women, found Cavazos guilty of seven of the 12 felony counts charged in connection with the July 26 event: kidnapping, assault with intent to commit a violent felony, trafficking a controlled substance, and four counts of criminal sexual penetration.

The jury acquitted Cavazos on charges of aggravated burglary, tampering with evidence, and three counts of criminal sexual penetration.

"The victim was very happy with the verdict despite the counts that the jury acquitted on," said Reeb.

Cavazos' attorney, Eric Dixon, said his client will appeal the case.

"Mr. Cavazos continues to maintain 100 percent innocence," Dixon said. "(The jury) came back and acquitted him on the five most serious charges. We will keep on going until he is fully exonerated."

According to Reeb's news release, Cavazos approached the victim outside her apartment just before midnight and "pushed his way into (her) home." The victim pepper sprayed Cavazos but was still overpowered.

After Cavazos entered, the victim "minimized her resistance, fearing for her safety and the safety of her child," and "was not freed until her mother arrived to check on her" around 5:30 p.m. the following day.

At that time, Cavazos let her leave with her child and told her not to tell anyone. Clovis Police Department officers later identified Cavazos as a suspect and apprehended him after a "short foot pursuit" from the 2000 block of Chapparal Circle, said the press release.

Reeb said it's "hard to know" why the jury delivered a guilty verdict on some but not all of the sexual penetration charges.

Cavazos will be sentenced next month by Judge Matthew Chandler and faces anywhere from 18 to 73 years in prison.