On Tuesday, August 16, a Pinal County Superior Court judge sentenced Reginald Prashaw, of Gold Canyon, to life plus 85 years in the Arizona Department of Corrections, after a call to a behavioral health crisis line sparked an investigation into the defendant.
In July, after a three-day trial, a 12-person jury convicted the 58-year-old man on five felony counts of Sexual Conduct with a Minor, all Dangerous Crimes against Children and two felony counts of Sexual Abuse with a Minor, also all DCACs.
In December 2013, the victim’s mother called a behavioral health crisis hotline to report information her teenage daughter shared with her regarding the defendant and his inappropriate behavior. Per the call center’s protocol, the employee then called the Pinal County Sheriff’s Office with the information. During PCSO’s investigation, the victim reported to detectives the defendant started molesting her when she was 5-years-old and forced her to perform sexual acts on him. “Sex crimes, like other serious and dangerous offenses, represent lasting and often devastating effects for the victim.