California Man Gets Nearly 53 Years for Abuse of Three Children

A Riverside County judge has sentenced Mazen Aliwi Alawi to nearly 53 years in state prison after he was convicted of a long list of crimes involving the physical and sexual abuse of three children.

Prosecutors said the abuse stretched across several years and took place in multiple Southern California counties, ending in a case that exposed sustained violence, threats, and exploitation.

Jury Convicted Alawi on 18 Felony Counts

The conviction came on February 19, 2026, when jurors found Alawi guilty on all 18 felony counts brought against him.

Those counts included one charge of lewd acts upon a child under 14, nine counts of lewd acts upon a child under 14 by force, three counts of criminal threats, one count of witness intimidation, one count of assault with a deadly weapon, and three counts of child abuse.

The sentencing followed on April 17, when the court imposed a total prison term of 52 years and 8 months.

Prosecutors Said the Children Were Especially Vulnerable

According to the evidence presented at trial, the three children arrived in the United States in 2016 when they were between 9 and 10 years old.

They had fled a war-torn country and did not speak English, leaving them heavily dependent on Alawi for daily care and support.

Prosecutors said the children’s mother had been left behind after Alawi promised he would later bring her to the United States, but that never happened.

That left the children isolated and under his control during the years when the abuse was taking place.

Abuse Began Soon After Arrival, Court Heard

The prosecution argued that the abuse started almost immediately after the children reached the U.S.

Trial evidence showed that one victim was repeatedly sexually abused over the next three years, while all three children were subjected to physical abuse.

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The case painted a picture of control through fear. Prosecutors said the defendant used repeated violence and intimidation to keep the children silent and obedient.

Threats and Violence Were Central to the Case

Evidence at trial showed that Alawi threatened to kill the children, threatened to send them back to a war zone, and told them to lie to authorities. Prosecutors said the children were struck with household objects, punched, kicked, and otherwise assaulted.

In one especially serious incident, the court heard that Alawi threatened one child with a knife. That allegation formed part of the assault with a deadly weapon charge that jurors ultimately upheld.

Disclosure to School Staff Triggered the Investigation

The abuse did not come to light until May 2019, when one of the children disclosed what had been happening to school staff. That report led to a law enforcement response and eventually to criminal charges.

The disclosure became the turning point in a case that had remained hidden for years, showing how critical schools and trusted adults can be in identifying abuse and helping children escape it.

Victim Statements Underscored the Damage

At sentencing, the emotional impact of the crimes was made clear through statements from the victims. One said the defendant had taken away childhood, innocence, and had separated the child from their mother.

Another victim’s statement focused on survival and determination, saying the future would now be theirs to shape and that the defendant had become an example of what not to become. The message was one of pain, but also of defiance and recovery.

Impact and Consequences

The immediate consequence is that Alawi will spend decades in prison for crimes the court found he committed against three highly vulnerable children. The sentence reflects the seriousness of both the sexual abuse and the violence used to control the victims.

The broader impact goes beyond the prison term. Cases like this expose how easily abuse can remain hidden when children are isolated, dependent, and afraid. It also highlights the role schools, social systems, and law enforcement play in breaking that cycle.

For the victims, the sentence may bring a measure of justice, but it does not erase the years of trauma described in court.

What’s next?

With sentencing complete, Alawi now enters the prison system to serve his term of 52 years and 8 months. Any further legal developments would likely depend on whether the defense files post-conviction motions or appeals.

For the victims, the next chapter is likely to center on healing and rebuilding. While the criminal case has ended at the trial level, the long-term personal consequences of the abuse will continue far beyond the courtroom.

Summary

Mazen Aliwi Alawi has been sentenced in Riverside County to nearly 53 years in prison after a jury convicted him of 18 felony counts tied to the sexual and physical abuse of three children over several years.

Prosecutors said the children arrived in the U.S. from a war-torn country, did not speak English, and were left dependent on the man who later abused them.

The case only came to light after one child told school staff in 2019.

The sentence closes a deeply disturbing case marked by fear, isolation, and repeated violence.

Bulleted Takeaways:

• A Riverside County judge sentenced Mazen Aliwi Alawi to 52 years and 8 months in state prison.
• A jury convicted him on 18 felony counts on February 19, 2026.
• The charges included lewd acts on a child, lewd acts by force, criminal threats, witness intimidation, assault with a deadly weapon, and child abuse.