Man sentenced to 60 years to life in prison for 1996 San Diego child rape, tell me about this news today
06-10-2026
A man named Jerry Halstead was sentenced to 60 years to life in prison following his conviction in a cold case involving the 1996 kidnapping and sexual assault of an 8-year-old girl in San Diego, California.
The crime took place in October 1996 in the Pacific Beach neighborhood. The young victim was abducted while walking home from an elementary school, driven to a secluded area, and sexually assaulted before being released. Despite extensive investigation at the time, detectives were unable to identify a suspect, and the case eventually went cold.
Decades later, the San Diego Police Department’s cold case unit reopened the investigation. Utilizing advancements in forensic technologyspecifically modern DNA analysis and investigative genetic genealogyinvestigators matched evidence recovered from the crime scene to Halstead.
He was subsequently arrested, brought to trial, and found guilty of multiple felony offenses, including kidnapping for rape and aggravated sexual assault of a child. The court imposed the maximum statutory penalty of 60 years to life, ensuring he will spend decades in state prison before any potential parole eligibility.