Washoe County Jury Convicts Sexual Predator

WCDA Releases Outcome of Recent Abuse Case Coordinated by Child Advocacy Center

The Washoe County District Attorney’s Office has announced that a jury convicted William Rene Alfaro of multiple counts of Sexual Assault on a Child Under the Age of Fourteen Years and Lewdness with a Child Under the Age of Fourteen Years following a weeklong jury trial. The jury returned the verdict last week after deliberating for approximately four hours. The Honorable Barry L. Breslow will sentence the defendant on July 7^th and the defendant faces the possibility of life in prison.

William Alfaro, age 64, from Reno, was found guilty of 7 counts of Sexual Assault on a Child Under the Age of Fourteen Years and 3 counts of Lewdness with a Child Under the Age of Fourteen.

The victim reported to social workers with the Washoe County Human Services Agency that Alfaro had sexually abused her since she was 8 years old. Detectives with the Reno Police Department Sex Crimes/Child Abuse Unit responded and began an investigation in conjunction with the Washoe County Child Advocacy Center. Based on interviews with the victim and witnesses, as well as evidence collected from the defendant’s motel room, investigators determined that the defendant had been sexually assaulting the victim for over 2 years. During that time, Alfaro forced the young victim to perform sexual acts on multiple occasions and threatened her so that she would not disclose the abuse. Alfaro was arrested at the conclusion of the investigation. The case was submitted to this office where formal criminal charges were filed and the case proceeded to jury trial.

During trial, Chief Deputy District Attorney Peg Samples argued that a guilty verdict would give the victim the permanent closure she deserves.