A Sacramento jury has convicted Dayshawn Pogue on 13 counts of child sexual assault involving two girls under the age of 10, capping a wrenching trial that prosecutors say could leave him behind bars for the rest of his life. The verdict came down on June 29, along with a multiple-victim enhancement and findings that the children were particularly vulnerable and that Pogue held a position of trust. Prosecutors say those findings leave Pogue facing what amounts to a decades-long prison exposure, with formal sentencing now set for August.
Prosecutors' account
The Sacramento County District Attorney’s Special Assault & Child Abuse Unit says the abuse spanned from 2018 to 2019 and involved two children who were 7 and 8 years old at the time. According to the office’s summary, the conduct included repeated acts of molestation that escalated to sexual intercourse with one of the victims.
Prosecutors say Pogue told the children to stay quiet, sometimes covering their mouths and warning them of further harm if they spoke out. Those allegations are detailed in a press release from the Sacramento County District Attorney's Office.
Jury findings and next steps
The district attorney’s office says sentencing is scheduled for August 7, 2026, at 10:30 a.m. in Department 12B before Judge Ernest Sawtelle. Prosecutors say Pogue faces a maximum possible sentence of 295 years to life in state prison.
The verdict was also shared publicly on X. Court filings identify the prosecution as case number 24FE011954 in Sacramento Superior Court, according to the court’s trial assignment calendar on the Sacramento Superior Court website.
What the law says
The charges outlined by prosecutors fall under California Penal Code section 288, which covers lewd or lascivious acts involving a child under 14. When those acts are carried out by force, violence, duress or fear, subdivision (b)(1) increases the crime’s severity to a felony with significantly longer prison terms.
Under state law, multiple counts and certain special findings can be stacked one after another, which is how cases like this can result in extraordinarily long sentences. The framework is spelled out in California Penal Code § 288.
Victim services and what comes next
The DA’s Special Assault & Child Abuse Unit led the prosecution, while local victim advocates point survivors and their families to county services for ongoing support. Sacramento County’s victim resources hub, Get Help Sacramento, lists counseling, advocacy and other assistance available to those affected by crimes of this nature.
Sentencing on August 7 is the next scheduled court date. At that hearing, the judge is expected to review the formal sentencing recommendations, and victims or their families may have an opportunity to deliver impact statements, with guidance and support available through the county’s victim services network.
