Antioch man who ran foster home and molested kids sentenced to 23 years

MARTINEZ — An Antioch man who opened his home to children in need, then sexually abused them for years, was sentenced to 23 years in prison.

Simon Chavez Sr., 69, pleaded no contest to child molestation counts and was formally sentenced on Dec. 19, records show. The sentence was the result of a plea deal between Contra Costa prosecutors and Chavez Sr., who was originally charged in 2019.

The prosecution was upsetting and scandalous. Originally charged with dozens of offenses, Chavez Sr.