New Bedford Man Sentenced for Years of Sexual Abuse Against Daughter

FALL RIVER (WBSM) — A Honduran native living in New Bedford has been sentenced to up to 45 years in prison for raping his daughter hundreds of times over a five-year period.

Jury Finds Defendant Guilty on Multiple Charges

Bristol County District Attorney Thomas M. Quinn III announced that Daniel Turcios Torres, 46, was found guilty on March 31 after a jury trial in Fall River Superior Court on charges of rape of a child aggravated by age, rape of a child by force, rape, three counts of indecent assault and battery on a child under 14, three counts of indecent assault and battery on a child over 14, and witness intimidation.

Torres was sentenced to 36 to 45 years in state prison, followed by 10 years of probation. He is also subject to an ICE detainer.

Victim Reports Years of Abuse to Police

In July 2024, the then-17-year-old female victim reported to New Bedford Police that Torres, her father, had been sexually abusing her since the age of 12, shortly after the family had arrived in the United States from Honduras. She said that the last incident had been at the end of June 2024.

Not only did she report numerous rapes and incidents of indecent touching, but she said Torres would punish her physically or restrict her activities if she refused his advances. She said he forced her to take birth control and did not wear a condom during the sexual assaults.

Threats and Control Alleged by Victim

The victim told family members what happened two to three years prior to going to police, but she recanted after Torres threatened her that she and her siblings would be split up and go into government care, or be sent back to Honduras, if she went to the police.

Quinn said an adult family member did observe Torres “in the victim’s room, kissing her and touching her leg, and recalled a time when (Torres) came home intoxicated and went into the victim’s room and locked the door. When confronted, (Torres) indicated he went to the victim’s room by mistake.”

D.A. Quinn on the Sentence

"The defendant raped a close young female relative hundreds of times during a five-year period. During that time, she was forced to use birth control to avoid a pregnancy, and he repeatedly threatened her not to tell anyone of the abuse,” D.A. Quinn said. “He should have been protecting her and not raping her.”

“The conduct is despicable, and the lengthy sentence imposed by the court is well-deserved for all the harm he has caused her,” Quinn said. “I commend the victim for her courage in testifying against her father and going through a most difficult ordeal. I hope she can move forward with her life. She did nothing wrong.”