Bay Area foster home operator sentenced for molesting

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 County prosecutors and Chavez Sr., who was originally charged in 2019.

Originally charged with dozens of offenses, Chavez Sr. — along with his son, a former prison corrections officer ...