YAKIMA, WA – The United States Attorney’s Office has announced that a jury returned a verdict in the trial of Jose Antonio Saldana, age 43 of Wapato, Washington. Saldana was found guilty of three counts of Abusive Sexual Contact and of Aggravated Sexual Abuse.

Based on court documents and evidence presented at trial, beginning in August 1999, and continuing to January 2014, Saldana sexually abused three children under the age of 13 in Wapato, Washington. During trial, the victims recounted the abuse they suffered, which included Saldana touching them under their clothing and attempting to sexually abuse one of the victims.

United States District Judge Mary K. Dimke presided over the trial for Saldana, which began March 10, 2024. Sentencing in this matter is set for June 16, 2025, in Yakima, Washington.

“The victims who came forward in this case demonstrated tremendous courage and bravery,” stated Acting United States Attorney Barker.  “Many victims who experience childhood sexual abuse do not disclose the events to others soon after they occur. At the trial in this case, three young victims testified years after the abuse they had suffered and identified Mr. Saldana as their abuser. The jury heard their voices and found Mr. Saldana guilty of the abuse he inflicted for more than two decades.  For his horrific crimes, Mr. Saldana will face a sentence of thirty years to life.”

“In this devastating case, Mr. Saldana abused multiple children for more than a decade on the Yakama Nation Reservation, even though he was not a tribal member himself,” said W. Mike Herrington, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Seattle field office. “The FBI is committed to enforcing federal laws to protect our tribal communities, and all our communities, from abuse and violence, especially the most vulnerable members of our society: our children.”

This case was investigated by the FBI and the Yakama Nation Police Department. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Michael Murphy.