Child Predator Sentenced to 575 Years-to-Life in Prison
Today in Department 6 of the Tulare County Superior Court, the court sentenced convicted child molester James Mills, age 59, to 575 years-to-life in prison for crimes against a child.
On January 29, 2024, a Tulare County jury found Mills guilty of eleven counts of lewd act upon a child under the age of fourteen and one count of attempted lewd act upon a child under the age of fourteen. Mills admitted the special allegation of substantial sexual conduct. Each count is a felony and considered strike offenses. After being found guilty, Mills admitted the sentencing enhancement that he is now considered a habitual sexual offender.
The crimes were committed between May 1, 2017, and April 14, 2021, against a female victim, who was between the ages of ten and thirteen at the time of the sexual assaults. All the sexual assault crimes occurred in the City of Tulare and surrounding area.
Mills possesses a 1999 child molestation conviction for which he was sentenced to 8 years in prison and was required to register as a sex offender.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Chelsea Wayt and investigated by Corporal Jose Esparza of the Tulare Police Department.
Media inquiries can be directed to the Office of the District Attorney, County of Tulare Chief Deputy District Attorney Dave Alavezos (559) 636-5494