PRESS RELEASE

CHILD MOLESTER CONVICTED BY JURY

April 2, 2010

Yesterday, Barry Thomas Mickle, 65, of Willits (Mendocino County) was convicted of child molestation following a five day trial in Shasta County Superior Court.  The jury returned the guilty verdicts after less than two hours of deliberation.

Mickle was convicted of molesting a child on two separate occasions in Redding from late 2007 to early 2008.  At the trial, two prior victims of Mickle testified as to his abuse of them when they were children.  One of these prior incidents of abuse dated back to 1982.  Evidence of pornography involving young males located on Mickle’s computer was also introduced at trial.

Following the jury verdict, Mickle was remanded into custody without bail by the trial judge, the Honorable William Gallagher.  He will remain in Shasta County Jail pending his sentencing.  Sentencing is set for May 18, 2010.  Mickle faces a potential penalty of ten years in state prison.  He will also be required to register as a sex offender for life. 

The case was prosecuted by Senior Deputy District Attorney Benjamin Hanna.  Investigator Doug Carney of the Redding Police Department was the lead investigator on the case, with RPD Investigator Chris Rathbun providing forensic computer analysis.  Shasta County Victim Assistance Advocate Deborah Heide assisted the victim and family throughout the case.