Firebaugh man guilty of trying to entice 14-year-old into sex acts
A Firebaugh man was found guilty Thursday of enticement of a minor after a two-day trial in Fresno’s federal court, U.S. Attorney Benjamin B. Wagner said.
John Torres, 28, was director of the Firebaugh Boys & Girls Club when he sent Facebook messages to a 14-year-old boy offering a shortcut to the boy’s community service hours in exchange for sex acts, according to evidence presented at trial.
The boy reported the messages to law enforcement.
The case was investigated by the Firebaugh Police Department, Fresno County Sheriff’s Office, and the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide effort started in 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat child sexual exploitation and abuse.
Torres is scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge Anthony W. Ishii on May 9. He faces a sentence of no less than 10 years and up to life in prison, along with a $250,000 fine.
Razi Syed: 559-441-6679, @razisyed
This story was originally published February 4, 2016 at 8:15 PM with the headline "Firebaugh man guilty of trying to entice 14-year-old into sex acts."