The criminal trial of Mercedes Carrera and her husband, Jason Whitney, on multiple child sexual abuse charges has been postponed again, with a new pretrial date set for August 8. This marks another delay in a case that has seen its trial date repeatedly vacated and postponed since an initial agreement for a jury trial to begin on October 3, 2022.

Ongoing Delays and Incarceration

The trial, which had most recently been scheduled to commence on July 17, was reset by Judge Katrina West at a hearing on Tuesday. A pretrial hearing for the case took place in July 2022. Carrera and Whitney were arrested following a police raid of their Rancho Cucamonga home on February 1, 2019. By the new pretrial date of August 8, they will have been held in county jail awaiting trial for four and a half years.

Initially, Carrera and Whitney were held without bail. Later, after liquidating their assets and having no source of income due to their incarceration, bail was set at $2 million for each. The couple faces multiple child sexual abuse charges. Mercedes Carrera is an American pornographic actress who has appeared in over 200 films, known for her work in MILF subgenres, including "Cougar" and "Latin." She has worked with studios such as Brazzers, Reality Kings, Wicked Pictures, Digital Playground, and Evil Angel.

In May 2025, it was reported that the trial of Mercedes Carrera and her husband, Daemon Cris (legally known as Jason Whitney), had been further delayed to a new start date of June 4, 2025. This report indicated that Mercedes Carrera had remained incarcerated for over six years since her initial arrest. Carrera and Cris were apprehended in February 2019 and collectively face eleven felony counts related to alleged sexual abuse involving Carrera’s minor daughter from a previous marriage. The protracted pre-trial period has been characterized by numerous delays, largely attributed to motions filed by the defense, and has incurred substantial costs for the state. In 2024 alone, sixteen hearings were reportedly conducted in the case.

Allegations and Public Statements

The allegations against Carrera and Whitney primarily center on a 75-minute audio recording from January 2019. In this recording, a San Bernardino Sheriff’s deputy interviewed Carrera’s daughter, who described alleged incidents of sexual abuse, referring to them as "cuddle sessions." A subsequent search was conducted at the couple’s apartment, which was also utilized for adult film production.

Earlier this month, two different YouTube channels published audio recordings purporting to be recent interviews with Carrera. These recordings were reportedly taped via phone from the West Valley Corrections Center. In these interviews, Carrera expresses frustration with the conditions of her imprisonment and the handling of her case by the arresting officers. She also questions some of the decisions made by her own legal counsel, who was appointed for her by the state.

Before joining the adult film industry, Carrera worked as an aerospace engineer. Her ancestry includes Puerto Rican, Native American, and Swedish, with her Puerto Rican ancestry specified as a mix of African, Jewish, and European. In 2015, Carrera was a frequent commentator in support of the antifeminist Gamergate campaign and collaborated with the pro-Gamergate group The Fine Young Capitalists on a fundraiser for students in STEM fields. She also performed in a live webcam show as a fundraiser for The Fine Young Capitalists, with funds directed toward a scholarship for students studying STEM fields.

Key Facts

  • The criminal trial of Mercedes Carrera and Jason Whitney has been postponed again, with a new pretrial date set for August 8.
  • The couple was arrested on February 1, 2019, and will have been in county jail for four and a half years by the new pretrial date.
  • Bail for Carrera and Whitney was set at $2 million each after they liquidated assets and lost income due to incarceration.
  • The trial has been repeatedly delayed since an initial October 3, 2022, jury trial date was agreed upon.
  • Audio recordings purporting to be recent interviews with Carrera from jail were published on YouTube, where she expressed frustration with her imprisonment and legal handling.
  • A May 2025 report indicated a further delay to June 4, 2025, for the trial, noting over six years of incarceration for Carrera and 16 hearings in 2024.