On August 10, 2010, Tulare County Superior Court Judge Darryl Ferguson imposed an 18-year prison sentence on 46-year-old Noe Burnias of Kingsburg for sex crimes committed upon a child victim. Almost five years after the molests ended, the victim reported the incidents to a school counselor which prompted the investigation. The molests occurred when the victim was between the ages of seven and nine. The defendant admitted in detail to the conduct.

On June 24, 2010, the defendant entered a no contest plea to six counts of forcible lewd and lascivious acts with a child under 14. As a result of the plea, the defendant has six violent felonies on his record (strike offenses) and will be required to serve 85% of his prison sentence before being eligible for parole. His parole can last up to five years. The defendant was also ordered to pay a $10,000 restitution fine, to register as a sex offender under Penal Code section 290, to submit to AIDS testing under Penal Code section 1202.1, and to provide DNA samples under Penal Code section 296.

This case was prosecuted by Deputy District Attorney Bethany M. Gilliland and investigated by Detective Esmeralda Ramos and Detective Katherine Garcia of the Tulare County Sheriff’s Department.

Contact Person: Assistant District Attorney, Shani Jenkins, (559) 733-6411