Professional rock climber sentenced to life in prison after sexual assault in Yosemite

A professional climber from California, Charles Barrett, has one been convicted to life in prison for the brutal sexual assault of a woman in Yosemite National Park. The 40-year-old climber was found guilty in February of two counts of aggravated sexual abuse and one count of abusive sexual contact, according to US Attorney Phillip A. Talbert.

In August 2016, while living and working in the national park, Barrett sexually assaulted a woman three times over one weekend. Court records and trial evidence confirmed these assaults. In addition, three other women testified that Barrett had assaulted them as well, providing more compelling evidence. A YouTube video purportedly shows a climb Barrett completed in Yosemite 13 years ago. It's a bit sinister to watch, knowing their alleged actions in the area:

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Despite the assaults occurring outside of federal jurisdiction, the testimonies of these women were crucial to securing Barrett's conviction. The Mono County Sheriff's Office said those counts were part of the charges he was facing.

U.S. Attorney Talbert emphasized Barrett's long history of sexual violence, stating, “He used his status as a prominent climber to assault women in the climbing community, and when his victims began to say Barrett responded by attacking publicly with threats and intimidation. This case is a testament to the courage of the victims who reported these crimes.”

Court documents also highlighted Barrett's ongoing intimidation tactics against the women he assaulted. In one case, seven years after an assault, Barrett harassed a victim at his climbing gym. Despite the gym owner's attempts to protect her, Barrett continued to threaten her for years.

Barrett's behavior did not change after his arrest in 2022. Prosecutors revealed he made hundreds of phone calls without showing any remorse. Instead, he threatened violence and lawsuits against his victims, accusing them of conspiring to ruin his life.