A Sacramento jury has convicted 64-year-old delivery driver Mohammad Salarzai of multiple sex crimes against a child, finding him guilty of two counts of lewd acts upon a child and one count of a forcible lewd act. Prosecutors said the victim was 12 years old at the time. The verdict followed a trial in Sacramento Superior Court.
Verdict, Prison Exposure And Sentencing Date
Jurors returned their guilty verdict last Thursday, according to The Sacramento Bee. Prosecutors told the outlet that Salarzai faces a maximum possible state prison term of 26 years. Sentencing is set for April 17, before Sacramento Superior Court Judge Donald Currier, and court officials say he will remain held without bail until that hearing.
Locked Up In Sacramento’s Main Jail
Salarzai is currently booked into the county Main Jail in downtown Sacramento, which houses people awaiting trial. The Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office lists the Main Jail at 651 I Street and directs the public to its online inmate information system for up-to-date custody status and visitation rules.
What The Jury Was Told Happened
Prosecutors told jurors that on July 17, 2023, Salarzai delivered a package to the child’s home, persuaded the 12-year-old to let him come inside to use the bathroom, and then molested the child. According to the report, the molestation included touching the child’s chest and rubbing his thigh. Those allegations formed the basis of the lewd and forcible lewd act charges that led to the conviction.
How Prosecutors Handle Cases Like This
Cases of this kind are typically handled by specialized units inside the county prosecutor’s office that focus on sexual assault and child abuse. The office regularly publishes press releases and conviction summaries in similar cases. For a sense of how local prosecutors frame and publicize these prosecutions, the Sacramento County District Attorney’s Office maintains a running archive of recent cases on its media pages…