Sexual assault offender sentenced to 12 years in prison

DEL NORTE, Calif. - The Del Norte District Attorney's Office announced Thursday that Christopher James Renner, 38, of Crescent City was sentenced to 12 years in prison for sexual acts on a child under the age of 14.According to the District Attorney, Renner pleaded guilty on the morning of his trial last month.The charges stemmed from a series of sexual acts that occurred in Renner's home between 1997 and 1999 involving a juvenile male who was between five and seven-years-old at the time. The lawsuit claims Renner had sexually assaulted that child at least three times over the period of three months.In February of this year, the District Attorney's Office said they became aware of the offenses and conducted an investigation that resulted in Thursday's conviction.

According to the District Attorney's Office, the Del Norte County Probation Department recommended that Renner receive a six year sentence because he is not eligible for probation. This would be the most lenient punishment the law allows for this type of charge."I was completely perplexed that our Probation Department felt that Renner should get probation and not even sent to state prison at all for molesting a five to seven-year-old boy for two years," said Del Norte District Attorney Dale P. Trigg.