Jury Deliberations Continue In The Ventura County Trial Of An Alleged Sexual Predator

Monday February 17, 2025

     Updated--What is getting close to marathon jury deliberations will continue Tuesday in the trial of a Colorado man charged in connection with a series of alleged sexual assaults in Simi Valley and Los Angeles.

     27-year-old Charles Gaines III is facing five counts including two of forcible rape and one count of attempted forcible rape.

     He is also facing almost 30 special allegations.

     He has pleaded not guilty to all charges and has denied all special allegations.

     The jury started their deliberations on January 30th and they've been spending all or part of almost every day since then working to reach a verdict.

      On Friday the panel did something they have done over and over again, that's send out another note to the court either asking a question or indicating an issue.

     On Friday the judge actually brought the jury into the courtroom to deal with that latest note and the judge read them a jury instruction that appears aimed at dealing with a jury having difficulty reaching a verdict on one or more issue.

     The jury then went back into deliberations but then recessed for the three day holiday weekend.

    Gaines was arrested in 2022 in connection with an extortion case handled by LAPD.

     They say DNA evidence then allegedly linked him to the sexual assaults in Simi Valley and Los Angeles.