A California man falsely sentenced to 378 years for sexual assault charges is free after evidence revealed his adopted daughter fabricated accusations to secure her immigration status in the United States.
Key Takeaways
- Ajay Dev, 58, was released after serving 16 years in prison for 76 convictions related to sexual assault on a minor that evidence now suggests were fabricated.
- Judge Janene Beronio found substantial evidence that the accuser, Sapna Dev, fabricated charges to punish Ajay and improve her chances of remaining in the U.S.
- Four witnesses testified that Sapna’s accusations were lies or motivated by anger, with one credible witness confirming she made accusations specifically to secure her immigration status.
- A hearing scheduled for June 13 will determine whether the Yolo County District Attorney will retry Dev or appeal the ruling that overturned his conviction.
- The case highlights potential issues of racial and ethnic bias in the original prosecution, problems now addressed by California’s Racial Justice Act.
Overturned Conviction Exposes Immigration Motive
On May 23, the justice system acknowledged a grave error when Judge Janene Beronio overturned the 378-year sentence of Ajay Dev, freeing him after 16 years behind bars. Dev had been convicted in 2009 on 76 counts of sexual assault against his adopted daughter, Sapna Dev, who claimed the abuse occurred between 1999 and 2004. The extensive investigation by Judge Beronio revealed compelling evidence that Sapna had fabricated the allegations as part of a calculated plan to secure her ability to remain in the United States, creating a case that exposes the vulnerability of our legal system to manipulation.
“A Northern California man’s 378-year sentence for sexual assault has been overturned by a judge who said there was strong evidence that his adopted daughter made up the accusations to punish him and improve her prospects of remaining in the U.S.,” reported the San Francisco Chronicle.
A Yolo County man’s 76 convictions and 378-year sentence for years of sexual assaults have been overturned by a judge, who said there was strong evidence that the man’s accuser had fabricated the charges to punish him. https://t.co/Dkw1CdwZ9T
— San Francisco Chronicle (@sfchronicle) May 28, 2025
Evidence of Fabrication Emerges
Court documents reveal that Sapna Dev, who was adopted from Nepal in 1998, demonstrated affection toward Ajay and his wife between 1999 and 2004—the very period during which she later claimed abuse occurred. This inconsistency formed part of a pattern that raised serious doubts about her allegations. Four separate witnesses came forward to testify that Sapna’s accusations were deliberate lies motivated by anger. Most damning was testimony from a credible witness who confirmed that Sapna explicitly stated “she was determined to return to the United States and needed to use the criminal charges to do that,” according to Judge Janene Beronio.
“I have read the court material for seven years and believe there is a substantial likelihood that he didn’t do this. I don’t think $60,000 is reasonable… I think OR is reasonable,” stated Judge Beronio in her ruling to release Dev without significant bail requirements.
The court’s decision to overturn Dev’s conviction represents a dramatic reversal in a case that had previously sailed through the system with little scrutiny. Dev’s spotless record before and during incarceration further supported the judge’s decision to release him while prosecutors determined their next steps. This case exposes alarming flaws in how our justice system handles cases involving immigration concerns, particularly when false allegations can be weaponized for immigration benefits.
Racial Bias and Prosecutorial Failures
Judge Beronio’s ruling didn’t just question the accuser’s credibility—it directly challenged the prosecution’s entire approach, which advocacy groups claim was tainted by racial and ethnic bias. The original trial occurred before California enacted its Racial Justice Act, which specifically prohibits testimony appealing to racial or ethnic prejudice. Supporters of Dev have long maintained that cultural misunderstandings and stereotypes played a significant role in securing his conviction, demonstrating how readily our justice system can be manipulated when political correctness trumps proper investigative procedures.
“Judge Beronio was the first judge to really look closely at the evidence and read every document,” said Patricia Purcell, a member of the advocacy group supporting Dev. “We have known from the beginning that Ajay Dev was wrongfully convicted.”
The Yolo County District Attorney’s Office now faces a critical decision at the June 13 hearing—whether to retry Dev or appeal the ruling. Their silence on the matter speaks volumes, as the evidence appears to thoroughly dismantle their case. If prosecutors choose to retry Dev despite the overwhelming evidence of his innocence, it would raise serious questions about their commitment to justice versus their reluctance to admit a catastrophic error that cost an innocent man 16 years of his life. This case serves as a stark reminder of how our immigration system can incentivize false accusations and how easily justice can be derailed when political agendas override truth.
