A
jury
delivered
a
verdict
that
brings
a
nearly
decade‑long
pattern
of
abuse
into
stark
relief
and
sets
the
stage
for
what
could
be
multiple
life
sentences
for
a
once‑trusted
legal
professional.
On
March
2,
2026,
jurors
convicted
Jonathan
Dean
Bishop,
51,
a
former
real
estate
attorney
from
Walnut
Creek,
California,
on
27
felony
counts
related
to
the
sexual
abuse
of
minors
and
the
possession
of
child
sexual
abuse
material.
The
verdict
caps
a
prosecution
that
laid
bare
years
of
criminal
conduct.
Bishop
was
found
guilty
on
24
counts
of
committing
lewd
acts
on
three
minor
victims,
all
described
in
court
documents
as
victims
under
the
age
of
14.
The
span
of
these
offenses
covers
multiple
years.
Evidence
admitted
at
trial
showed
that
Bishop
possessed
more
than
600
images
of
child
sexual
abuse
material
depicting
two
of
the
minor
victims.
And
particularly
disturbing,
the
jury
found
Bishop
sexually
abused
Jane
Doe
#1
when
she
was
under
10
years
old,
with
that
abuse
occurring
over
an
extended
period
between
June 2010
and
June 2018.
Contra
Costa
District
Attorney
Diana
Becton
praised
the
victims’
courage
and
the
multi‑agency
work
that
made
the
conviction
possible.
“The
bravery
shown
by
these
victims
was
extraordinary,
and
their
courage
made
this
conviction
possible,”
she
said
in
a
statement.
Bishop
now
faces
multiple
life
sentences
when
he’s
formally
sentenced,
including
sentencing
enhancements.