Jerica Enriquez
Jerica Enriquez
Photo of Jerica Enriquez released by the Weld County Sheriff's Office
Jerica Enriquez (born February 12, 1992) is a convicted sex offender and a former special education assistant residing in Greeley, Coloado. In August 2018 she was sentenced to 18 years to life imprisonment after sexually assaulting a 14-year-old boy and sexting two other boys. [1]
Personal Life
Jerica Enriquez, was pregnant throughout the case against her and gave birth to a girl while in the custody of the Weld County Sheriff's Office. A month before her successful pregnancy she had a miscarriage. [1]
Career
Jerica Enriquez was a special education assistant at Jefferson Junior High School in Greeley, Colorado, a discovery or alternative school that focuses on the needs of students who are behind on their credits or might have behavioral issues. [1]
Criminal History
Photo of Jerica Enriquez released by the 19th Judicial District Attorney
On Thursday, August 9, 2018 Jessica Enriquez was sentenced to 18 years to life in prison for sexually assaulting a 14-year-old boy and sexting two other boys. [1]
On Wednesday, May 30, 2018 Enriquez was found guilty of two counts of sexual assault on a child by a person in a position of trust, as well as one count each of sexual assault on a child and promotion of obscenity to a minor. All of the charges are felonies.
Enriquez was accused of taking advantage of her position as a role model to lure the victim, who was not identified in court because he is a minor, into a sexual relationship in October 2016. [1]
During her argument for a maximum sentence of 24 years to life in prison, Weld Deputy District Attorney Arynn Clark reminded the court the child sexual assault statute was written to be gender blind and Enriquez didn't deserve a lighter sentence because she is a woman. [1]
"I've argued a lot of position of trust cases in this courtroom and this is the most aggravated one I have ever seen," Clark said, noting the case received coast-to-coast media attention given the gender inversion of the perpetrator and the victim.
"The court is in a unique position to send a message that Weld County will protect our boys as much as we protect our girls."
Enriquez, who was pregnant throughout the case and recently gave birth to a girl, delivered a lengthy statement in which she pleaded with the court to show mercy and sentence her to the minimum of eight years to life in prison.
Although she acknowledged her wrongdoing and apologized to the victim's family, Enriquez said she didn't want to miss out on a lifetime of her daughter's milestones.
She said she also didn't want to see her family, especially her mother, saddled with the responsibility of raising her daughter while she's behind bars.
"I feel like I am miscarrying for a second time, that I'm losing a child for the second time," Enriquez said, referring to a miscarriage she suffered about a month before her successful pregnancy.
"I don't want my daughter hating me or resenting me or thinking I abandoned her."
Judge Shannon Lyons paused for several minutes after hearing Enriquez's statement.
He cited her age, a lack of criminal history and the fact she is not a serial sex offender in rationalizing his decision not to impose the maximum sentence of 24 years to life. But he also said Enriquez hadn't earned the minimum sentence, either.
"There are all kinds of wolves who masquerade in sheep's clothing," Lyons said.
"This wasn't an accident.
You put yourself in that category.
"This is a sad day for you, for your family and for the community.
There are people who saw promise in you.
You should be getting ready to go back to school right now, but instead you are going to prison as a sex offender."
Many of Enriquez's family members, who packed into one side of the courtroom, cried through most of the two-hour-long sentencing hearing.
Several exited the courtroom in disgust upon hearing the 18-year sentence.
Others had to be removed for their outbursts.
"I love you, Jerica," Enriquez's sister yelled.
"Don't you ever (expletive) forget that."
Another family member took aim at the victim's family, uttering another expletive before being escorted from the courtroom by a sheriff's office deputy.