Former California Mayor Sentenced to Prison for Sexual Abuse of Exchange Student

Robert Brian Bassett, a former mayor of Biggs, California, was sentenced on September 2, 2026, to four years and four months in prison after pleading no contest to three felony charges of child sexual abuse. Bassett, 58, was accused of grooming a 17-year-old foreign exchange student who lived in his home from April to November 2023. Prosecutors stated that Bassett abused the victim multiple times during her stay, taking advantage of her vulnerability and trust. The case began to unfold after Bassett's arrest on July 9, 2023, when police executed a search warrant at his residence. Following the arrest, investigators contacted the victim in her home country, where she reported the abuse. Bassett served as mayor from 2022 until December 2024 and was also a member of the City Council. He resigned from the council in early 2025 amid an extortion investigation. As part of a plea agreement, two additional felony charges were dropped. After his release, Bassett will be required to register as a sex offender for ten years.