Jackson Man Pleads Guilty To Molesting 13

A Jackson man has pleaded guilty to child sex abuse, child exploitation and voyeurism for molesting a 13-year-old girl and for secretly recording video of women as they went to the bathroom at a local bar.

The most prison time German Guerra, 37, could face under his plea agreement is 48 years, but can argue for less.

Guerra, whose full name is German Estuardo Guerra Saban, has signed a plea agreement in which the Teton County Attorney agrees to drop 13 of the 17 charges against him in exchange for guilty pleas on four of them, all felonies.

Guerra pleaded guilty July 18 to one count of first-degree child sex abuse, two counts of felony voyeurism and one count of sexual exploitation of children, in line with his agreement.

On This Phone

The charges stem from December 2022, when the girl’s parents happened upon Guerra’s phone and found nude photos of their daughter on it, according to court documents.

The girl then reported that Guerra molested her about 100 times that year and that when she wouldn’t sleep with him, he whipped her with a leather belt with a metal buckle until she couldn’t sit up straight, according to an affidavit filed March 16.

Guerra also would show pornography to the girl, she told police.

When the Jackson Police Department obtained a search warrant for Guerra’s phone, they found videos of 11 unidentified victims going to the bathroom at the Cowboy Bar in May 2022, says the affidavit.

The document says the phone search also revealed apparent child pornography featuring Guerra’s child victim.

These Are The Battles

On the most serious charge, the sex-abuse count, Teton County Attorney Erin Weisman has agreed to argue for a 27- to 30-year prison sentence, though Guerra and his attorney Rachel Weksler may argue any sentence they wish.

Guerra and the prosecutor agreed to a 2- to 5-year prison sentence on one voyeurism count and a 2- to 3-year prison sentence on another. They agreed to a 7- to 10-year prison sentence on the sexual exploitation of children count.

This is where the numbers diverge: Weisman plans to argue for consecutive sentences at Guerra’s sentencing hearing, meaning the years sentenced on each count would run one after another in prison.

But the defense is free to argue for any sentences to run concurrently; that is, simultaneously.

Guerra agreed in his plea deal to submit to any counseling or evaluations the court orders, and to pay any victim restitution that may be ordered.

Weisman included in the plea agreement a provision letting the judge, Teton County District Court Judge Melissa Owens, consider at sentencing Guerra’s alleged conduct in the 13 charges Weisman is no longer pursuing.

Guerra’s sentencing will be set for a later date after state investigators file a pre-sentence investigative report informing the court of Guerra’s history, character and issues.

Clair McFarland can be reached at [email protected].

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