The former owner of a Santee car restoration business was sentenced Friday to 23 years and four months in state prison for molesting two underage girls — the culmination of criminal and civil proceedings that exposed a pattern of grooming that took place inside and around his shop.

Joshua Cantor, 46, who owned Evolve Custom Automotive Restoration in Santee, was convicted by an El Cajon jury of more than a dozen counts related to sex acts with minors. At his sentencing hearing in El Cajon, Deputy District Attorney Alexandra Lorens told the court that Cantor ingratiated himself with the families of the two victims so they would feel comfortable with him around their children, then groomed and manipulated the girls.

One victim sued Cantor in civil court, alleging in her lawsuit that he used her interest in cars to get close to her. The complaint accused Cantor of sexually assaulting her on multiple occasions, taking nude photographs of the teenager, and telling her of a secret room he had at his workshop where he had sex with girls and took photographs of them. The lawsuit alleged that in April 2022, a passerby called police after seeing Cantor kissing the girl in his car. In July 2024, a San Diego Superior Court judge awarded that victim over $1.54 million in damages.

Before imposing the sentence, Superior Court Judge Daniel Lamborn denied a motion from Cantor — who represented himself — to suspend criminal proceedings on grounds of mental incompetence. Lamborn said Cantor has a history of deceit and dishonesty and called the motion a delay tactic. Cantor repeatedly objected and made statements during the hearing; when he continued to speak as the victims delivered their impact statements, the judge had him removed from the courtroom, though he was still able to view proceedings remotely. Lamborn ultimately described Cantor as a continuous danger to the community and to young girls in the community.

Both victims told the court that their experiences with Cantor have made it difficult to trust others. One victim said she continues to feel embarrassed, ashamed and scared, even though none of this was my fault. Attorney Maria Severson, who represented one victim in the civil case, said after the hearing: There is no amount of money or amount of liability that Joshua Cantor can give to make the pain of what he did go away. His despicable conduct leaves a lifetime impression on his victims.