A Clearlake man was found guilty Friday in a child sex abuse case that led to him fleeing to Florida before returning to Northern California, where he was arrested nearly two years ago, officials said.
Christopher Neil Kiger, 42, faced a Mendocino County jury beginning late last month. Jurors convicted him of 11 counts related to sexually abusing a girl between summer 2020 and June 2023 in Willits, according to the Mendocino County District Attorney’s Office.
“She was victimized between the ages of 10 and 13 by a [suspect] who groomed her not to question his motives and lust,” District Attorney David Eyster said in a statement.
Jurors found Kiger guilty of three counts of lewd or lascivious acts on a child under 14, two counts of penetration with a foreign object and six counts of continuous sex abuse of a child.
Kiger left California after learning of an investigation the Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office launched in July 2023, the agency reported in 2024. He returned to Lake County in May 2024 after trying to raise money for bail, which was expected to be about $425,000.
Investigators arrested Kiger June 6, 2024 after tracking him to a remote location on Williams Ranch Road, near Willits. It appeared he’d been staying and working at an illegal cannabis operation and he was arrested after a brief chase into a wooded area, the Sheriff’s Office said at the time.
Officials successfully argued for bail to be increased to $1 million.
Kiger’s trial lasted about two weeks and included testimony from the girl, investigators and a witness who “reluctantly had to admit at trial that she had been coached by the defendant to lie on his behalf to law enforcement,” Eyster said.
Kiger is scheduled to return to court March 25 to continue proceedings in the case. A sentencing hearing has not yet been scheduled.
You can reach Staff Writer Colin Atagi at colin.atagi@pressdemocrat.com
Hence then, the article about clearlake man found guilty in mendocino county child sex abuse case was published today ( ) and is available on Ukiah Daily Journal ( Middle East ) The editorial team at PressBee has edited and verified it, and it may have been modified, fully republished, or quoted. You can read and follow the updates of this news or article from its original source.
Read More Details
Finally We wish PressBee provided you with enough information of ( Clearlake man found guilty in Mendocino County child sex abuse case )
Also on site :