FRESNO COUNTY, Calif. (KFSN) — A former Clovis school counselor who abused a student is now heading to prison for two years.
“This was an incredibly vulnerable victim,” Fresno County Superior Court Commissioner Daniel Brickey said.
The victim, a 13-year-old teenage girl, attended Clark Intermediate in Clovis when prosecutors say Reyes violated his position of trust.
“To put it quite simply and bluntly, he was a school counselor who had sex at least seven times with an eighth-grade student that he was mentoring,” prosecutor Adam Christopherson.
The relationship continued from middle school to Clovis High. Christopherson says Reyes would even pick up the girl during summer break.
“They had sex in his living room, on his bed, in his car,” the prosecutor said.
Defense attorney Eric Schweitzer argued the victim initiated the relationship, saying it started with a kiss.
“Nobody’s blaming anyone, but the circumstances of the case are the circumstances of the case,” Schweitzer said.
Reyes pleaded no contest to a lewd act upon a child.
He nearly avoided prison time after a previous judge indicated she would grant probation. That deal fell apart on Wednesday.
His sentence could be even less.
“Once the defendant gets in the prison and starts taking classes and taking different activities within the prison, that will reduce his time substantially,” Capozzi said.
Reyes is now ordered to stay away from the victim.
“This is not double-digits in prison. This is a two-year term,” Commissioner Brickey said. “You will move forward with your life. It will look differently, but this is not the end of your life.”
Reyes is ordered to report to prison on Friday after he asked to spend the holidays with his family.
