January 21, 2026 - Tuolumne County District Attorney Cassandra Jenecke has announced that on January 15, 2026, 72-year-old Craig T. Christensen of Kailuakonaha, Hawaii was sentenced 21 years to Life in State Prison by the Honorable Judge Hallie Gorman-Campbell. The sentence comes after the defendant plead guilty to Aggravated Sexual Assault of a Child and Continuous Sexual Abuse of a Minor.

 On September 22, 2023, Tuolumne County Sheriff’s Office received a call from Kealakehe Police Department in Hawaii regarding a sexual assault that occurred in Tuolumne County approximately 20 years prior where the suspect currently lived in Hawaii and the survivor was then living in Texas. Tuolumne County Sheriff’s Investigations assigned detectives to the matter and began an investigation. During the course of the investigation, it was determined that for a period greater than six months, and more than five times, the defendant sexually assaulted the survivor, who was then between the age of four to six, beginning in 2001. The survivor would go on to tell his parents, who immediately cut off contact with the defendant. The defendant then moved to Hawaii. The sexual assaults understandably impacted the survivor’s life in such a way that in 2023, he along with a family friend, went to Hawaii and confronted the defendant about the criminal conduct. The defendant did not deny what he had done, apologized and stated that there had been other victims in the past. The defendant gained access to the survivor by being a close friend to the survivor’s family, who at one time had considered him family.  

Through collaboration between the Tuolumne County Sheriff’s Office and the Tuolumne County District Attorney’s Office, a warrant for the defendant’s arrest was obtained and the defendant was extradited from Hawaii in February of 2025. The defendant pled guilty on August 21, 2025. The defendant will be a lifelong 290 registrant and prior to any consideration of parole, is subject to evaluation under the Sexually Violent Predator Act.

On October 2, 2025, the survivor and seven family members gave passionate and compelling statements to the Court regarding the impact the defendant’s actions have had on the survivor and the family. Without the survivor’s strength and fortitude of coming forward and reporting the crimes, and then cooperating throughout the diligent investigation done by Tuolumne County Sheriff’s Office, the defendant would have not been held accountable and he would remain free to victimize others.

This case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Stephanie Novelli. The survivor and his family were supported by Victim Witness Advocate Hollie Brown.

Source: Tuolumne County District Attorney