SAN DIEGO -- A 73-year-old man is expected in a downtown San Diego courtroom Monday to stand trial on multiple counts of child molestation involving five alleged victims, including his great-granddaughter.

Francisco Javier Esquivel, a legal resident but not a U.S. citizen, was arrested in September 2008 and faces deportation upon his release from custody, if convicted. He is charged with 52 counts of lewd and lascivious acts against a child under age 14, and lewd and lascivious acts against a child under 14 using force.

The alleged molestations came to light in June 2007 when Esquivel's then- 6-year-old great-granddaughter told her mother that Esquivel was touching her inappropriately. The alleged abuse occurred during family's visits to Esquivel's home in Bay View Heights.

The mother went to police, who questioned family members and found four others who said that Esquivel had also molested them when they were young, according to San Diego police. All of those alleged victims are now adults.

Police estimated the abuse may have been occurring for as long as two decades.

Esquivel is being held in the George Bailey Detention Facility in lieu of $2.7 million bail.