Ione, CA…In the summer of 2015, a minor girl reported to the Ione Police Department that she had engaged in a sexual relationship with Keithlee Velez, 26, of Ione. She explained to police that Keithlee Velez’s wife, Amy Velez, 24, knew about the sexual relationship and helped them meet for the purpose of sex under the guise of having her babysit for the pair. The couple was also planning on bringing another underage person into their relationship. The Ione Police Department’s investigation revealed that Keithlee Velez had also forcibly kissed a female minor. She ran home and Velez followed her to her residence, where he threatened to harm her and her family if she told anyone what had happened.

The Ione Police Department also found that Keithlee Velez had been forcibly molesting an underage victim for several years, beginning when she was ten, telling her to keep the molestations secret. Amy Velez was aware that this was happening and was even present at times, but did nothing to stop the molestation or report it to authorities. Investigators soon found that Amy Velez herself had molested a male child.

The couple went through great lengths to keep their crimes secret. When two minors found out about the crimes, Keithlee Velez took them to a remote location and threatened them with a sawed off shotgun so they would not report the crimes to law enforcement.

When their web of secrets unraveled, the couple fled Amador County with their 3 young children, but were soon apprehended. Following their arrest, their own children (ages 2 through 6) also disclosed that they had been victimized by their parents.

On October 25, 2017, during jury trial, Keithlee Velez pled guilty to felony counts of forcible sodomy and for lewd acts upon a child. He admitted to enhancements for molesting multiple victims and tying/binding his victims. Amy Velez pled no contest to lewd act upon a child.

On December 7, 2017, following a very emotional sentencing hearing, Judge J. S. Hermanson sentenced Keithlee Velez to 25 years to life in state prison. Amy Velez was sentenced to 8 years state prison.

District Attorney Todd Riebe praised the courage of the victims in coming forward with their stories and bringing these two criminals to justice. “Their bravery will keep these two predators off the street for a long time,” Riebe said. Riebe also praised the excellent investigative work of the Ione Police Department, Sergeant Arnold in particular, Deputy District Attorney Gabrielle Stidger, who prosecuted the case, and Victim-Witness advocate Amy Drake, who guided these young victims through the criminal process. “These professionals did an outstanding job of which I and this entire community should rightfully feel very proud of,” Riebe added.