It's been a long time since her arrest (2019), but it seems Mercedes Carrera is finally going to have her day in court. She had a pre-trai conference on May 5th and another one set for June 23rd. One more is set for July 14th; they will do one more trial readiness check before finally beginning the jury trial on July 17, 2023, at 8:30 am.

The victim, a child, was said she was sexually assaulted multiple times over a four-month period.

Mercedes Carrera has publicly acknowledged that the child making the allegations is her daughter, with her former husband.

On the 75-minute audio recording of an interview conducted in January of 2019, by San Bernardino Sheriff’s Deputy Steven Theis, the child describes what she called “cuddle sessions” during which Mercedes Carrera and Daemon Cins repeatedly touched her vagina. The girl also alleged to the deputy that on at least one occasion, one of the pair inserted a finger into her vagina.

The case is being heard by the Superior Court of California, County of San Bernardino, with Judge Katrina West. Some of the original charges have changed, so let's take a closer look at what she is facing when she does finally go to trial.

1. Felony - PC288.7(A)-F: Sexual Intercourse/Sodomy with child 10 years old or younger
2. Felony - PC288.7(B)-F: Sexual Penetration/Oral Copulation with child 10 years old or younger
3. Felony - PC288.7(B)-F: Sexual Penetration/Oral Copulation with child 10 years old or younger
4. Felony - PC288.7(B)-F: Sexual Penetration/Oral Copulation with child 10 years old or younger
5. Felony - PC288.7(B)-F: Sexual Penetration/Oral Copulation with child 10 years old or younger
6. Felony - PC288.7(B)-F: Sexual Penetration/Oral Copulation with child 10 years old or younger
7. Felony - PC288.7(B)-F: Sexual Penetration/Oral Copulation with child 10 years old or younger
8. Felony - PC288.7(B)-F: Sexual Penetration/Oral Copulation with child 10 years old or younger
9. Felony - PC288.7(B)-F: Sexual Penetration/Oral Copulation with child 10 years old or younger
10. Felony - PC288.7(B)-F: Sexual Penetration/Oral Copulation with child 10 years old or younger
11. Felony - PC288.7(B)-F: Sexual Penetration/Oral Copulation with child 10 years old or younger

Her husband, Jason Whitney, faces his own collection of charges. Let's look at those.

• Felony - PC288.7(B)-F: Sexual Penetration/Oral Copulation with child 10 years old or younger
• Felony - PC288.7(B)-F: Sexual Penetration/Oral Copulation with child 10 years old or younger
• Felony - PC288.7(B)-F: Sexual Penetration/Oral Copulation with child 10 years old or younger
• Felony - PC288.7(B)-F: Sexual Penetration/Oral Copulation with child 10 years old or younger
• Felony - PC288.7(B)-F: Sexual Penetration/Oral Copulation with child 10 years old or younger
• Felony - PC288.7(B)-F: Sexual Penetration/Oral Copulation with child 10 years old or younger
• Felony - PC288.7(A)-F: Sexual Intercourse/Sodomy with child 10 years old or younger
• Felony - PC288.7(B)-F: Sexual Penetration/Oral Copulation with child 10 years old or younger
• Felony - PC288.7(B)-F: Sexual Penetration/Oral Copulation with child 10 years old or younger
• Felony - PC288.7(B)-F: Sexual Penetration/Oral Copulation with child 10 years old or younger
• Felony - PC288.7(B)-F: Sexual Penetration/Oral Copulation with child 10 years old or younger

The original charge of possession of a controlled substance while armed has disappeared for both Mercedes Carrera and her husband. On February 3, 2022, Jason Whitney was also charged with another Felony - PC4502(A)-F: Prisoner Possess Weapon. This means he was charged with having a weapon while in prison. A “weapon” under this statute includes things such as:

• blackjack,
• slungshot,
• billy,
• sandclub,
• sandbag,
• metal knuckles,
• any explosive substance,
• fixed ammunition,
• dirk or dagger or sharp instrument,
• pistol,
• revolver,
• firearm, or
• tear gas weapon.

It is unclear what specific weapon he was caught with and how it will affect his sexual assault charges for his case with Mercedes Carrera. Guess we will find out on July 17, 2023! Be sure and follow us on Twitter at @Fleshbot to get the latest news!