BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KBAK/KBFX) — The California Board of Parole Hearings (BPH) denied release to a Kern County man convicted of molesting an eight-year-old girl during a family party in 2016.
The Kern County District Attorney’s Office said on May 7, 2026, BPH found that Juan Mendoza continues to pose a current and unreasonable risk to public safety.
According to the DA’s office, in November 2016, the eight-year-old victim informed her mother that Mendoza committed a sexual offense against her. The incident happened at a family party where Mendoza approached the child, playing inside a bounce house, and told her they should go look for another family member. The victim got out of the bounce house and went with Mendoza.
The DA’s office said Mendoza took her behind an unattached garage that was in a dimly lit area. Mendoza then sexually assaulted the victim despite the child crying and telling him to stop. When Mendoza finally stopped, he gave the victim $10 and told her not to tell, according to the DA’s office. After the family party, Mendoza drove the victim home.
Witnesses testified that the victim was crying when she returned home. On February 22, 2018, a jury found Mendoza guilty of lewd and lascivious acts with a minor under the age of 14 and oral copulation of a child under the age of 10.
On March 27, 2018, a Kern County judge sentenced Mendoza to 15 years to life in prison.
The Kern County District Attorney’s Office said on May 7, 2026, BPH found that Juan Mendoza continues to pose a current and unreasonable risk to public safety. PHOTO: Kern County DA
Mendoza is currently 50 years old and has served about nine years in state prison. On May 7, 2026, the BPH conducted Mendoza’s first parole hearing.
In 2026, prior to the hearing, a psychologist determined that Mendoza was low risk. The DA’s office said however, at the hearing, Mendoza changed statements he made to the psychologist and provided more information. He admitted he had touched a second minor female with the intention of sexually abusing her but decided not to go further. In addition, his testimony strongly indicated that he likely continued to have deviant sexual fantasies.
The Kern County District Attorney’s Office said they “not only asked the board to deny parole, but to have Mendoza reevaluated by a psychologist given the new statements.” The BPH found that Mendoza was not suitable for parole because he continued to pose a current unreasonable risk of danger to society. However, the board denied the District Attorney’s Office request for a new psychological evaluation. The BPH has the option of denying an inmate parole for a period of 15, 10, 7, 5 or 3 years.
Mendoza’s commissioners issued a three-year denial.
Mendoza’s next hearing could be as soon as 18 months, meaning he may face a parole hearing before undergoing another routine psychological evaluation, according to the DA’s office.
District Attorney Cynthia Zimmer commented, “Although the Board denied Mendoza’s release, our concerns remain significant, as he will be eligible for another hearing in as little as 18 months. By denying our request for an additional psychological evaluation after Mendoza provided new and inconsistent statements during the hearing, the board is failing to address critical factors necessary to determine an inmate’s suitability for release.”