Salinas man found guilty of molesting a child

A Salinas man has been found guilty of molesting a child.

According to the Monterey County District Attorney, a jury found 36-year-old Jesus Medina guilty of two counts of child molestation.

The case stems from an incident on November 5, 2016.

The Monterey County District Attorney the child was under ten-years-old at the time and went to a spiritual ceremony with her mother. Jesus Medina was a spiritual leader and a close family friend of the victim and her mother.

After the ceremony ended, he took his own children and the victim back to his house where the children were going to have a sleepover. The victim’s mother had known Medina and his family for several years and trusted him to watch over her child.

After Medina put the victim to bed, he returned to the room and molested her twice.

He later told investigators he touched her accidentally over her clothing when he was putting her to bed.

During the trial, the victim bravely testified about the molestation and its effects on her.

The judge will sentence Medina on November 15th. He faces up to ten years in prison and will be required to register as a sex offender.