Yakima, Washington - Jose Antonio Saldana, a 43-year-old resident of Wapato, Washington, has been sentenced to 45 years in prison for sexually abusing three children. The sentence was handed down by United States District Judge Mary K. Dimke following Saldana's conviction on March 12, 2025. Saldana was found guilty of three counts of Abusive Sexual Contact and Aggravated Sexual Abuse.
According to court documents and evidence presented during the trial and sentencing, the abuse began in August 1999 and continued until January 2014. The victims were all under the age of 13 at the time of the offenses in Wapato, Washington. During the trial, they testified about their experiences, describing how Saldana touched them inappropriately and attempted further sexual abuse.
Acting United States Attorney Richard Barker commented on the case stating, “Mr. Saldana’s significant sentence reflects the seriousness of his conduct. I want to commend the brave victims who testified to the abuse they suffered and identified Mr. Saldana as their abuser.” He added that his office will continue collaborating with law enforcement to hold offenders accountable and support survivors.
The investigation was conducted by the FBI and the Yakama Nation Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Michael Murphy prosecuted the case.
