SALINAS, California - Monterey County District Attorney Jeannine M. Pacioni announced on June 4 that
40-year-old Travis Harris of Scotts Valley, was sentenced to 40 years and 8 months to life in
prison, after being convicted by a jury of 8 counts of Lewd Act on a Child aged 14 or 15 in violation of
Penal Code Section 288(c); 6 counts of Lewd Act on a Child under 14 in violation of Penal Code section
288(a); 1 count of Oral Copulation of a Child 10 or under in violation of Penal Code section 288.7(b); 1
count of Contacting a Minor for Purposes of Committing a Sex Offense in violation of Penal Code
section 288.3(a); 2 counts of Sending Harmful Material to a Minor in violation of Penal Code section
288.2; 2 counts of Unlawful Sexual Intercourse in violation of Penal Code section 261.5(c), 1 count of
Using a Minor for Sex Acts in violation of Penal Code section 311.4(c); and 2 counts of Providing
Cannabis to a Minor over 14 in violation of Health and Safety Code section 11361(b). Judge Pamela
Butler presided over the trial and sentencing.
The defendant met Jane Doe 1 online, on the chat board “Reddit,” in September of 2022. At the time, he
was 38 years old, and she was 15 years old. After talking online for approximately a week, they met in
person and engaged in sexual intercourse. The defendant was aware that she was 15. They met in
person many times, at various locations over the next few months, engaging in various sex acts. He also
sent her lingerie, sex toys and adult clothing through Amazon.com. He also sent her nude photographs
of himself and took photos and video of the two of them engaged in sexual intercourse. The defendant
asked Jane Doe 1 to recruit other young friends of hers to have sex with him and spoke to her about his
sexual fantasies.
He also told Jane Doe 1 about a 9-year-old girl who previously lived in his household and described
being naked with that child and seemed sexually excited by it. After seeing a news story about the
defendant’s arrest, that child, Jane Doe 2, now a young adult, came forward to police and disclosed that
the defendant had molested her when she was 9 years old.
The defendant was convicted of 7 “strike” offenses under California’s 3 Strikes Law and will
be required to register as a sex offender for the rest of his life. Jane Doe 1’s mother gave an emotional
victim impact statement to the judge, describing the impact that the defendant’s crimes have had on her
daughter and her family. Judge Butler praised Jane Doe 1 and Jane Doe 2 for their courage in coming
forward and testifying about a very difficult topic.
This case was investigated by Greenfield Police Officers Jesus Rangel, Armando Lerma and Joseph
Dyels; a special agent with the United States Department of Homeland Security; and Monterey County
District Attorney Investigator Rachel Maldonado. The victims and their mothers were supported by
Victim Advocate Mayra Sandoval. Court Facility Support Dog Armani and Victim Advocate Kristen
Peterson provided Jane Doe 1 and Jane Doe 2 with invaluable support during their trial testimony.
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