Serial Sex Offender Headed to State Prison

A serial sex offender is headed to state prison. The Mendocino County District Attorney’s Office reports that 24-year-old Zachary Barajas of Ukiah avoided a jury trial that was scheduled to get underway Monday by entering guilty and no contest pleas to sex offenses involving two separate female minor victims. The convictions include two Strike convictions under California’s current version of the Three Strikes law. After the defendant’s eventual release from prison many years down the road, he can be charged with the two prior Strikes from this case and be exposed to a future prison sentence of 25 years to life should he again commit and be convicted of another serious or violent felony.