Santa Barbara man, 84, gets prison in child molestation case

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. (AP) — An 84-year-old Santa Barbara man described by prosecutors as a serial pedophile has been sentenced to 92 years to life in state prison.

The district attorney’s office says Robert Charles Hawley was sentenced Wednesday in Santa Barbara County Superior Court.

A jury earlier this year convicted Hawley of nine counts of child molestation and sexual assault.

The investigation of Hawley began when a woman observed him inappropriately touching a young girl at a supermarket and provided authorities with descriptions and a vehicle license plate.