Registered Sex Offender Faces Life in Prison
Defendant’s Prior Conviction of a Sex Offense Involving a Minor Was a Factor

PHOENIX, AZ—On December 23, 2011, Darren Quesada, 44, of Whiteriver, Arizona, was found guilty of aggravated sexual abuse of a minor and abusive sexual contact with a minor by a federal jury in Prescott.

The case was tried before U.S. District Judge James A. Teilborg and the defendant is being held until sentencing before Judge Teilborg on April 2, 2012.

The jury found the defendant guilty of sexually abusing two minor children in 2009 and 2010. The jury also made special findings that the defendant was previously convicted of a federal sex offense involving a minor in 1997 when the defendant was almost 30 years of age. As a result of that offense he entered into a plea agreement and was convicted in May 2000 and was required to register as a sex offender.

A conviction for aggravated sexual abuse of a minor with a prior conviction for a federal sex offense involving a minor carries a mandatory sentence of life imprisonment.

The investigation in this case was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The prosecution was handled by Assistant United States Attorney, Dimitra H. Sampson, District of Arizona, Phoenix.

CASE NUMBER: CR-11-8088-PCT-JAT

RELEASE NUMBER: 2011-285(Quesada)