Napa County Jury Convicts Man Of Lewd Acts With 7 -Year-Old

NAPA, CA — A Napa County jury convicted a 53-year-old Carson City, Nevada, man Wednesday of forcible lewd acts on a child under the age of 14, Napa County District Attorney Allison Haley announced. Jurors also upheld two sentence-enhancing allegations that Roy Linn Tidwell, 53, had substantial sexual conduct with the child and used force in the commission of the offense.

Napa Superior Court Judge Elia Ortiz presided over Tidwell's trial, which lasted three days and included testimony from the survivor. The case stemmed from sexual contact Tidwell had with the survivor over 10 years ago on the evening of Nov. 15, 2007, when Tidwell was in his early 40s and the victim was 7 years old.

"This case rested heavily on the testimony of the survivor," said Napa County Deputy District Attorney Agnes Dziadur, who prosecuted the case.

"It took extraordinary courage for her to center a courtroom, tell a roomful of strangers the truth of her ordeal, be cross-examined and look into the face of her abuser," Dziadur said. "I am grateful that this jury, like myself, my team, and our office, believed her, honored her bravery and helped her achieve justice through the conviction of her abuser."

The investigation of Tidwell was led by Napa County Sheriff’s Department Detective Nathalie Hurtado, while Napa County District Attorney Investigator Melissa Kelly assisted in the prosecution and Sexual Assault Victim Services provided advocacy for the survivor.

Tidwell was arrested in October 2018 in Carson City on a $250,000 warrant out of Napa County.

Now, he is being held in Napa County jail without bail and faces up to 10 years in state prison when he is sentenced Aug. 9, according to the DA's Office.