BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KERO) — The Kern County District Attorney's Office announced the conviction of a man for 10 counts of child molestation against three victims stemming back to 1993.
A Kern County jury found defendant Gilbert Arizmendez Barriga guilty of 10 counts of child sexual molestation, including lewd and lascivious acts with a child under the age of 14 years, continuous child sexual abuse, oral copulation with a child 10 years old or younger, sexual penetration of a child 10 years old or younger, and sexual intercourse with a child 10 years old or younger.
According to the DA's Office, Barriga was related by law to all of the victims, who ranged from ages 8 to 12-years-old during the times of the abuse.
The DA's Office said the crimes began with one victim in 1993 until 1996. Another victim was molested from 2006 to 2010 and the third victim was molested from 2010 to 2011, according to the DA's Office.
The molestation was discovered in August of 2017, when the victims came forward to report the abuse.
Sentencing is set for March 18 before Superior Court Judge John Oglesby. Barriga faces a potential life sentence and mandatory sex offender registration.
