SACRAMENTO, Calif. — A popular rock climber working and living at Yosemite National Park was convicted Tuesday of sexual abuse and abusive sexual contact.
The jury found 39-year-old Charles Barrett guilty after multiple women testified he sexually assaulted them and evidence was brought to trial of a woman who was assaulted multiple times while in the area for the weekend, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office, Eastern District of California.
U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert says Barrett threatened his victims in the lead-up to the trial.
Barrett was charged for the assault of one woman because the other assaults are “outside federal jurisdiction,” according to the attorney’s office.
“This defendant used his renown and physical presence as a rock climber to lure and intimidate victims who were part of the rock-climbing community,” said Talbert. “Today, the defendant has been held accountable for his crimes.”
Barrett is scheduled for sentencing May 21 and faces a maximum of life in prison and a $250,000 fine.
Anyone with information related to this case or who believes they may be a victim of Barrett is encouraged by officials to submit a tip online, call 888-653-0009, or email nps_isb@nps.gov.
