Climber Charles Barrett Just Lost His Court Appeal

December 9, 2025

In a ruling issued on December 8, the United States Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals upheld a lower court’s conviction and life sentence of accomplished California climber and guidebook author Charles Barrett for the rape of a woman in Yosemite National Park.

Barrett was found guilty by a federal jury after a February 2024 trial of two counts of aggravated sexual abuse and one count of abusive sexual contact. He received the maximum sentence of life in prison in June 2024 from U.S. District Court Judge John A. Mendez. Mendez noted that the harsh penalty was warranted because of Barrett’s “pattern of terrorizing his victims” and “a clear lack of remorse.” Prior convictions, including felony domestic violence and making criminal threats, were also a factor in the judge’s decision.

Barrett, 41, has been in federal custody since August 2022, when he was arrested for sexually assaulting a fellow climber identified as K.G. in court documents. Outside