by Will Anderson
OROVILLE, Calif. - The Butte County District Attorney's Office on Wednesday announced that 47-year-old Desiree Serena Herrera of Oroville pleaded guilty to charges of elder abuse and felony assault.
Butte County District Attorney Mike Ramsey says that Herrera's crimes involved the repeated abuse of a elderly man in his 70s, who was under her care.
Ramsey says that the case came to light in September of 2025 when deputies from the Butte County Sheriff’s Office responded to Enloe Health in Chico for a report of a elderly patient with multiple serious injuries as a result of elder abuse.
Deputies discovered that the man had been living with Herrera, who was his IHSS (In Home Supportive Services) caregiver. During their investigation, deputies observed that the elderly man was covered in abrasions and bruises, had sustained a head injury, damage to one eye, and several broken ribs in the process of healing.
The victim told investigators that he had befriended Herrera, who was homeless, several years earlier when he worked at a local hotel.
Ramsey says that in late 2024, Herrera, who was parole for theft and drug offenses, moved into the victim's home and became his IHSS worker. IHSS is a state-funded and administered program which provides a worker to assist low-income elderly or disabled persons with certain tasks.
Initially, the arrangement between the two of them went well, but the victim said that in May of 2025, Herrera began abusing him both physically and psychologically.
According to the victim, Herrera restricted his phone use, would not allow him to leave the home, would not allow him to control his own fiances, and would not allow him to see his family. The victim said that Herrera also began to physically abuse him.
Ramsey says that the victim reported the deputies that Herrera had once became angry and repeatedly struck and kicked him, which broke multiple ribs, and prevented him from seeking medical treatment.
The victim revealed that Herrera had also kicked him in the eye while they were sitting on a couch. Herrera reportedly refused to let the man go to see a doctor and would call and cancel any appointments that the victim tried to make for himself.
Throughout the late spring and summer of 2025, Herrera allegedly forced the victim to stand for hours, sleep on the floor, and denied him access to the restroom.
The victim told authorities that Herrera would sneak up on him because he could barely see as a result of the eye injury she had caused and would use a torch lighter to burn his head and face.
Ramsey says that the victim reported to deputies that on at least six occasions, Herrera had also struck him on the head with the butt of a kitchen knife.
In September 2025, after suffering through another one of Herrera's beatings, the elderly victim escaped the house and paramedics transported him to Enloe Health. After his arrival at the hospital and the extent of victim's injuries were discovered, hospital staff had summoned deputies.
Deputies made contact with the Butte County District Attorney's Office and worked with prosecutors to obtain an arrest warrant for Herrera.
Several days later, investigators from the District Attorney's Office located and arrested Herrera while she was in line at the IHSS office in Oroville with another elderly person. Ramsey says that the elderly person that was with Herrera had not suffered any abuse at Herrera's hands.
The Butte County District Attorney's Office says that Herrera has a lengthy criminal record dating back to the 1990s, including drug and theft offenses, and a 2004 conviction in Santa Clara County for robbery and attempted murder.
After serving time in prison, Herrera was released. Shortly after being released from prison, Herrera was convicted of carjacking and was returned to prison.
District Attorney Ramsey says that as part of Wednesday's plea agreement, Herrera will receive the upper-term sentence of 29 years and 8 months in state prison for her crimes against the elderly victim.
Ramsey says that his office and investigators from the Butte County Sheriff's Office have maintained close contact with the victim during the case since the initial law enforcement response. According to Ramsey, the victim is finally receiving the appropriate medical care and is now living in a safe situation.
After pleading guilty in court, Herrera was returned to the custody of the Butte County Jail, where she has been held since her arrest with no bail.
Ramsey says that Herrera will return to Butte County Superior Court on March 11, 2026 for formal sentencing.
Full Article & Source:
Oroville IHSS worker sentenced to nearly 30 years in prison after pleading guilty to elder abuse, felony assault charges
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