Announcements

Defendant Found Guilty of 7 Counts
Charged with Sexual Assault on a Child Under 14

A 28-year-old Sparks man has been found guilty of 4 counts of Sexual Assault on a Child Under 14, and 3 counts of Lewdness with a Child Under the Age of 14 Years.

Jesse Barrera was arrested in January of 2022, after detectives with the Washoe County Sheriff’s Office responded to a report of possible inappropriate sexual touching, with Barrera reporting that he had inappropriately touched a young girl two years prior. During the investigation, it was discovered that the defendant had begun abusing the victim when she was 7 years old, and that it continued until she was 10 years old. During the course of the investigation, WCSO detectives obtained a full confession as to the criminal charges.

At trial, Deputy District Attorney Amanda Sage highlighted the consistencies between the defendant’s statement and the victim's memories. DDA Sage also focused on how the abuse escalated over time and pointed out the bribes and warnings the defendant used in order to gain the victim's silence.

Sentencing is set for October 24^th, with the Honorable Judge Barry Breslow presiding.

This case was investigated by a multi-disciplinary team from the Washoe County Children’s Advocacy Center. The CAC was formed in 2014 as a community partnership between law enforcement, child protection services, prosecutors, mental health and medical professionals, and victim advocates. It provides support to child abuse victims and their families at each stage of a criminal investigation and prosecution. Cases referred to the Child Advocacy Center benefit from access to advocacy, medical and therapeutic treatment referrals, and forensic interviewing services.