A Nevada County Superior Court jury found William Eugene Ferris guilty Wednesday of two counts of child sexual abuse. Ferris was 65 at the time of the crime in April 2025. He faces a maximum sentence of 23 years to life in state prison and lifetime registration as a sex offender.
The jury convicted Ferris of oral copulation of a child 10 years of age or younger and a lewd and lascivious act upon a child under 14, according to fox40.com.
Ferris was arrested on April 5, 2025, after a 911 call led investigators to his Nevada City residence, according to the same FOX40 report.
Sentencing and prosecution
District Attorney Jesse Wilson told FOX40, “We will be seeking punishment to the fullest extent of the law in this case.” Ferris faces a maximum sentence of 23 years to life. A sentencing date has not been released, though the station reported one is expected to be set soon.
The Nevada County Sheriff's Office investigated the case, and Wilson prosecuted it.
How child-abuse investigations may be coordinated
The U.S. Department of Justice says multidisciplinary child-abuse teams can bring together law enforcement, child protective services, prosecutors, medical and counseling professionals, and others. Its guidance does not establish whether such a team participated in Ferris’ case. See the Office of Justice Programs, U.S. Department of Justice.
