Trial begins for ex-teacher accused of having sex with fifth-grader


Yakima Herald-Republic
Trial begins for ex-teacher accused of having sex with fifth-grader
GORDON KING/Yakima Herald-Republic
Jesus Vega Barcenas listens to prosecuting attorney Patti Powers in court Oct. 28, 2009. Barcenas, 28, is on trial for raping a girl who was a student in his fifth-grade class at Adams Elementary School in Wapato.
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YAKIMA, Wash. -- Jurors heard opening arguments this morning in the trial of a former Wapato teacher accused of having sex with a pre-teen student.

Jesus Vega Barcenas, 28, is charged with two counts of first-degree child rape and three counts of second-degree child rape.

Vega Barcenas was a substitute teacher and former full-time teacher at Wapato’s Adams Elementary School.

The girl he is accused of raping and molesting was a student in his fifth-grade class during the 2006 school year. Authorities allege he kissed and fondled her in his classroom, then later had sex with her after he started dating her mother.

Vega Barcenas’ case was one of four reported in 2007 that involved authority figures close to children. The others were a church volunteer, a karate instructor and a basketball coach.

Those cases have already been resolved in Yakima County Superior Court, where the Vega Barcenas case is also being heard.

Jury selection started Monday, with the trial scheduled to last through next week.

— Mark Morey



Commentsicon2
Posted by Desert_Rover at 10/28/09 11:05AM        Post ID#: #16277

Here we go again. I hope this doesn't take the focus off of the Taylor case. I'm really eager to find out the results.

I'm not gonna lie, if this guy is found guilty, he needs to be sent to prison! In my opinion, this is even worse of a case than the Taylor case because it's involving a young child. Disgusting!

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Posted by 5thunders at 10/28/09 03:44PM        Post ID#: #16317

WHAT??? huh??... NICKR didnt put his senseless opinion regarding this?? o cause its about a Caucasion thats why.. He only has Hatred towards any1 that is OF color.. DISGUSTING no matter what race nonetheless.. HOPE she sits in PRISON with all the other PEDOPHILES!!

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Posted by rheitzm at 10/28/09 04:21PM        Post ID#: #16320

This is sickening.

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Posted by ChrisR at 10/28/09 10:03PM        Post ID#: #16340

This is so gross! Not to mention an outrage. I hope the book is flung at this pedophile and he sits somewhere in prison and rots. Oops..I bet our justice system lets him run a muck soon because our system is to full to protect our children from the likes of this man.

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Posted by Aurelius at 10/29/09 08:37AM        Post ID#: #16363

You never know what the heck is going on. If he is guilty then prison is a real real sacry scary place for him.

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