A Wilson County man will spend the rest of this life for sex crimes against three different vicitms. On Friday, May 10, 2024, Judge Brody Kane sentenced 50-year-old Pedro Barrera to 60 years in prison to be served at 100% with no early release eligibility. Additionally, he was placed on the sex offender registry as a violent offender and sentenced to community supervision for life.

On February 1, 2024, Barrera was found guilty of all ten indicted charges by a Wilson County jury after a four-day trial. Those charges included three counts rape of a child, six counts aggravated sexual battery, and one count continuous sexual abuse of a child. The last charge, Continuous Child Sex Abuse, is committed if the defendant commits certain violent sexual offenses against three or more victims. Upon completion of the investigation in the case, Barrera was arrested and has remained in custody since.

Barrera’s victims were between seven and nine years of age at the time of the commission of the crimes and the time span of abuse was between 2017 and 2020 at two separate locations in Mount Juliet. All three victims testified at trial. None of the victims were related to Barrera.

“This sentencing ensures that Pedro Barrera will never be released to hurt another person,” said Jason Lawson, District Attorney. “I am thankful for the careful attention to detail that Judge Kane pronounced during the sentencing. I hope that today’s sentencing will bring some measure of peace to the victims and their families in this case.”

The case was prosecuted by Deputy District Attorneys Tom Swink and Justin Harris.