Former Mayor Sentenced for Grooming Student | Chico News

Chico News Today | 2 Min News | The Daily News Now! · Sep 3, 2026 · 1m

Former Biggs Mayor Robert Bassett got a four-year, four-month prison sentence for sexually exploiting a 17-year-old exchange student he was housing — the maximum penalty — after grooming her over months and betraying her trust while she was thousands of miles from home. The victim, now speaking out, described lasting trauma, and prosecutors emphasized his abuse of power as key aggravating factors. Bassett will also be required to register as a sex offender for ten years after release. This case serves as a stark warning about the consequences when authority figures prey on vulnerable youth…