Professional rock climber sentenced to life in prison for sexual assault in Yosemite national park
Charles Barrett, a 40-year-old professional rock climber, has been sentenced to life in prison for sexually assaulting a woman three times during her visit to Yosemite National Park in California, United States.
Federal prosecutors revealed that Barrett was convicted on two counts of aggravated sexual abuse and one count of abusive sexual contact.
The incidents occurred in August 2016 while the victim was on a hiking trip in California. Barrett, known as a star climber and guidebook writer, was living and working in the park at that time.
US prosecutor Phillip Talbert commented after the sentencing, stating, “Barrett’s long history of sexual violence supports the imposition of a life sentence.
He used his status as a prominent climber to assault women in the rock-climbing community and responded with threats and intimidation when his victims spoke out.”
During the trial, it was revealed that Barrett lured the victim into isolated areas under false pretenses, including inviting her to watch a meteor shower, then assaulting her.
He also attacked her while swimming in the Tuolumne River and raped her in a communal shower.
While three other women testified about Barrett’s assaults dating back to 2008, prosecutors could not pursue charges for those incidents due to jurisdictional limitations.
At the sentencing, the emotional impact was evident as the four women in court were described as holding hands and in tears.
Barrett’s defense argued that he suffers from mental illness and claimed the women conspired against him to “ruin his life.”
Despite plans for an appeal, federal prosecutors highlighted Barrett’s history of abuse and harassment.
He had previously been convicted of criminal threats in 2022 after harassing and threatening one of the victims who testified against him during the trial.
Source-BBC
