Maricopa County Attorney Rachel Mitchell announced on last week the sentencing of Gerardo Estrada, who has been given 281 years in prison for the sexual abuse of five children. This sentence, handed down this week, requires Estrada to serve every day of his term without the possibility of release, a condition known as “flat time.”
In April 2024, a jury found Estrada, born in May 1990, guilty of multiple felonies, including:
- Seven counts of Sexual Conduct with a Minor, a Class Two Felony and Dangerous Crime Against Children
- Two counts of Sexual Conduct with a Minor, a Class Six Felony
- Three counts of Molestation of a Child, a Class Two Felony and Dangerous Crime Against Children
- One count of Sexual Abuse, a Class Three Felony and Dangerous Crime Against Children
The victims, who lived with Estrada, were between the ages of 5 and 16 years old when the abuse began. The sentence reflects the severity of the crimes and the lifelong impact on the victims.
“These young victims endured horrific abuse at an early age. It is truly an act of bravery for each to have summoned the strength to report these crimes,” said County Attorney Rachel Mitchell. “They will live with the emotional scars and the painful memories for the rest of their lives. For these reasons and many more, this criminal deserves the punishment imposed by the court.”
During the sentencing, one of the victims addressed the court, saying, “I’m at a loss for words for what [he] did to me and my [sibling]. No time in prison can make up for the harm you’ve caused.”
The Maricopa County Attorney’s Office urges anyone who witnesses child abuse to report it immediately to local law enforcement and the Arizona Department of Child Safety at 1-888-SOS-CHILD (1-888-767-2445) or ChildHelp at 1-800-422-4453.
