Charles Barrett booking photo via Mono County Sheriff's Office

A federal jury found Charles Barrett, 39, guilty Tuesday of two counts of aggravated sexual abuse and one count of abusive sexual contact that occurred during a weekend in Yosemite National Park, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced.

According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, the victim went to Yosemite for a weekend of hiking, and Barrett, who was working and living in the park, sexually assaulted her three times. During trial, three other women testified that Barrett also sexually assaulted them. These assaults were not charged because they were outside federal jurisdiction but were admitted at trial as relevant to the charged assaults.

“This defendant used his renown and physical presence as a rock climber to lure and intimidate victims who were part of the rock-climbing community. His violent sexual assaults were devastating to the victims, whom he later threatened in the lead-up to trial,” said U.S. Attorney Talbert. “Today, the defendant has been held accountable for his crimes. My office will continue its work to make National Parks such as Yosemite a safe place for all.”

According to a story in outsideonline.com, Barrett was a celebrated member of the Northern California climbing community known for many first ascents and a popular series of guidebooks he wrote on bouldering in the eastern Sierra and Yosemite.

The case is the product of an investigation by the National Park Service. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michael G. Tierney and Arin C. Heinz are prosecuting the case.

U.S. District Judge John A. Mendez is scheduled to sentence Barrett on May 21, 2024. Barrett faces a maximum statutory penalty of life in prison and a $250,000 fine.