Modesto man admits to sexually abusing adolescent family member
The Modesto man who sexually abused an adolescent family member and secretly recorded her is facing a maximum sentence of more than 17 years in prison after pleading no contest to all the charges against him on Tuesday.
Jim Patrick Arnold, 41, molested the victim three times between March 2018 and February 2019 and used a hidden camera to record her showering. The video was found on a USB drive that Arnold asked a friend to retrieve from the home he shared with his wife after his arrest last February.
During an interview with a probation officer Arnold said he used the camera to show the victim was beginning puberty, which he justified would absolve him of being a pedophile.
In November, Stanislaus Superior Court Judge Shawn Bessey ruled there was enough evidence for Arnold to stand trial on the crimes charged by the District Attorney’s office: continuous sexual abuse of a child, possessing of child pornography and using a child for posing or modeling involving sexual conduct, all felonies; as well as a misdemeanor for using a hidden camera.
Arnold’s attorney, James Reilly, asked Bessey to drop the two felony charges that stem from the shower video because he argued that it did not contain images of sexual acts.
Bessey said there was sufficient evidence that the video included “some sexual acts,” and the minor’s actions in the video could be perceived as “sexual conduct in the eyes of the viewer.”
Last month Bessey denied a motion by Reilly that again attempted to have those charges dropped.
Arnold entered the plea during a pretrial hearing Tuesday.
Deputy District Attorney Erin Schwartz said in an email Tuesday afternoon that the plea was not part of any deal so the judge will determine his sentence.
“An open plea to the court had previously been discussed, but I was not aware it was happening today,” she said.
Arnold faces a maximum sentence of 17 years and four months in prison for the three felonies, Schwartz said.
Arnold remains free on $100,000 bail as he awaits sentencing, which is scheduled for May 18.
Arnold was a part-time volunteer youth ministry worker at Big Valley Grace Community Church in Modesto. There is no indication that the allegations in this case involve the church.
At the time of his arrest, Arnold worked as a senior human resources analyst for the Modesto Irrigation District, a position from which he has since resigned. Before that, Arnold worked for the city of Modesto, where he held several positions culminating with human resources manager.
This story was originally published March 4, 2020 at 11:24 AM.
