Travis Harris, a 40-year-old travel nurse from Scotts Valley, was found guilty by a jury on several charges related to child molestation, announced Monterey County District Attorney’s Office on April 15. The verdict was reached after a trial overseen by Judge Pamela Butler.
Harris was convicted on more than 20 counts, including lewd acts on minors, oral copulation of a child and unlawful sexual conduct. The case centered on his interactions with a 15-year-old girl from Greenfield, whom he met on the social media platform Reddit.
The relationship began online in September 2022, when Harris, then 38, was aware of the girl’s age. They later met in person and engaged in sexual activities multiple times over a few months. Authorities reported that Harris sent sexually explicit materials and encouraged the minor to recruit other young friends for similar encounters.
“He also sent her lingerie, sex toys and adult clothing through Amazon.com,” stated the DA’s Office in a news release. “He also sent her nude photographs of himself and took photos and video of the two of them engaged in sexual intercourse.”
Following the trial, another victim — now a young adult — came forward after learning about Harris’ arrest, reporting that he had molested her when she was 9 years old.
Harris now faces a maximum sentence of 51 years and four months to life in prison, and he will be required to register as a sex offender for life. He is scheduled for sentencing on June 4.
