Yuma man faces 20 charges of sex with minors

A 59-year-old man is being held in the Yuma County jail on suspicion of having sexual relations with four minors at various times over a period of several years.

Thirteen additional felony charges were filed in Yuma Justice Court Wednesday against John Pickard, bringing to 20 the total number of felony counts he faces, Yuma police said.

Pickard was arrested on May 7 near his home and booked into the Yuma County jail after police launched an investigation in late April into allegations against Pickard, police said.

Yuma Police Department spokesman Officer Clint Norred said the investigation identified four minors as victims.

"It's a continuous abuse situation," Norred said of the case. "It has occurred over a several year period."

Pickard originally was arraigned on May 15 on four counts of sexual conduct with a minor, one count of continuous sexual abuse, one count of sexual abuse and one count of furnishing harmful items to a minor.

A continuing investigation resulted in the additional charges filed Wednesday, police said.

On Wednesday, Pickard was charged with two counts of continuous sexual abuse, two counts of commercial sexual exploitation of a minor, two counts of sexual conduct with a minor, two counts of furnishing harmful items to a minor, two counts of molestation of a minor and three counts of sexual exploitation of a minor.

Pickard was arraigned by Justice of the Peace David Cooper, who ordered he be held without bond and scheduled his next court date for June 3 at 4:45 p.m.

The judge also assigned a public defender to represent Pickard.

Norred said while there are four known victims in the case, it remains under investigation and there is a potential for additional as yet unidentified victims to come forward.

The YPD is asking anyone with information about the case to call Detective Mike Sanchez at 928-373-4670 or 78-crime to remain anonymous.

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James Gilbert can be reached at jgilbert@yumasun.com or 539-6854.