A former Lake County undersheriff was found guilty Monday in connection to an attempted incest case, according to a release from the Fifth Judicial District Attorney's Office.
A jury returned two guilty verdicts for Fernando Mendoza for attempt to commit first-degree aggravated incest and attempt to commit invasion of privacy for sexual gratification.
The jury acquitted Mendoza of the other two charges against him - attempted sexual exploitation of a child and embezzlement of public property.
“These despicable acts were perpetrated upon a family member and further trampled on community trust given the defendant’s position as a high-ranking, local law enforcement officer at the time of the crimes,” said Bruce Brown, 5th Judicial District Attorney. “I can only hope the victim and those lives he has harmed can heal after today’s verdict.”
Mendoza was fired from the Lake County Sheriff's Office 2017 amid sexual harassment allegations.
He's scheduled to be sentenced on Feb. 21, 2019. According to the release, he faces a "lengthy term in the Department of Corrections and mandatory sex offender treatment."
Mendoza was taken into custody after the verdicts and his bond was raised to $250,000.
The Colorado Bureau of Investigation and the District Attorney’s Office collaborated on this investigation.
